I am not a feminist. I agree with equal rights for all, however there are differences between people and i dont see a problem with that. If there is something heavy needing lifting at home i will get my husband to do it, simply because he is stronger than me. However, there are women that i work with that are probably stronger than him. Its just that for us, as a couple he is the stronger person, i however do all the shopping and cooking. Not because its a 'womans job' but because i am better at it, i am better organized than him, i can shop cheaper than him, and shock, horror, i actually really enjoy cooking.
I dont have a problem with being called a girl. At work, if i am working with other females people quite often come through the office and say 'hi girls'. I dont find this offensive, disrespectful or unprofessional. Its just a saying.
And back to the reason this is going on and on. I dont think colleagues and family describing 2 women that were murdered as girls is a problem. Its their perogative to use whatever terms they feel fit, they knew them, they loved them.
I still find it astounding that there can be a thread with hundreds of posts about using the term 'young girls' when these 'young girls' were tragically and brutally murdered.
seeker - why cant you accept that you have one view and others have another view. If you were offended by it then thats fine, if people are offended about your 'anger' over such a thing at a time like this then thats fine too.