To think that there should be a female equivalent to "guys" or "chaps"

[TheBossofMe]

Leading on from another thread about terms used to describe women, I realised that there isn't a word that we use to describe a group of women that is gender-specific but not age-specific.

We use the terms "guys" or "chaps" for men and boys of any age. So someone can be one of the guys if he's 5, 15 or 50.

But for women, we have "girls" which should only be applied to the young and "women" which is only applied to the not-that-young-anymore.

So we need a whole new word, a MN-originated word, that we use to describe a group of females of any age.

Because we know that if we use it enough on MN, it eventually transcends into real life, and then into popular usage, and then the OED, and then immortality beckons for us all (or something!).

Anyone got any good ideas?

and in the US "guys" is gender neutral

What about "cats"?

Has the printer been mended, cats?

I like gentlepersons

Folks is not gender specific, though, you could use it equally about men and women. Plus it makes Sue think of Bugs and Pam Ayres.

Well, to be fair, it used to only be very old people who were called Alfie. I now seem to know six under three years.

So why not call the young(er) gentlepersons, too?

The teachers at the kids school refer to us parents (mums and dads) as "folks"

What's wrong with that

Look OP you are never going to please everyone if indeed anyone.

These types of threads are just getting stupid now!

I have to go and make my DDs dinner since I'm actually home in time for it today, so feel free to decide whilst I'm gone.

Hully gentleperson sounds like I should be wearing either crinolines or a cravat.

If I say "hi guys" I mean it in a gender-neutral sense.

But if someone says "one of the guys" they mean male people.

I don't like "one of the guys" anyway, suggests that you have to be macho and chest-beaty and kill animals and the cook them over fires and eat them with your hands.

Folkette then?
Is that more gender specific?

I shall be using 'cats' and 'beans' from now on.

Nothing with "ette" it is always stuck on the end of a masculine term and make women also-rans.

Cat = bad in teen parlance

females?
Ladies
tbh I don't use guys or chaps so a bit stuck on this one.

Huns? Babes?

I'm with Titsalina.

Muggles.

Sorry inknowwho

The rules:

Gender specific to apply to a group of females (eg guys, blokes, chaps for men)
Not age specific so can apply to any female of any age
Short, pref one syllable
Can be used in a work situation or a social one without anyone getting fired

Feel free to add to the rules

I don't want to be a muggle
and I don't like madam
we should be maids

Queens

Sue I think the younger generation refer to their clitoris as a bean. As in "flicking the bean"

Sorry theboss

Didn't think it was lighthearted.
MN has gone bonkers last 3 days.

TheBigJessie pmsl where I live that title is already taken

TheBossofMe

Oh. I thought you meant as in schoolchildren flicking beans, peas, bogeys, bits of paper at each other...

Coven

'Guys' is just too Cliff Richard for me I'm afraid.

threeOrangesocksmorgan

Well, can't we have it back? cos I'm not a fecking princess. Queens rule. Sometimes. Princesses don't.

Coven - My Da's already bagsied that for his female relatives.