to hate the word ladies

[wakemeupnow]

That's it really...

I've been called worse, to be fair.

YABU.
Ladies is the polite term for a group of adult females.
Not that I am bothered at being one of 'the girls' either tho' - I just don't get why some MNers get so worked up about these hugely trivial things.

I hate boob. Particularly 'on the boob' for breastfeeding. I thought I was the only one.

remember the first time someone called me 'hun'.

It was at The Tanning Shop. Serves me right, really.
Add message | Report | Message poster TheWomanTheyCallJayne Fri 15-Nov-13 15:43:52

TBh if you are getting a tan done in a shop hun or babe is really part of the service

Reminds me of bloody school. 'Ladies don't do x'.

The trouble for me isn't so much the gender issues as the class ones, per my grandmother's 'well, she isn't really a lady, is she?'

Actually, Three, you're right - it's equally sexist and elitist thanks to old-fashioned class-based ideals of femininity.

I am much, much less troubled by 'girls'.

Good link three. I believe that IANBU to hate the term.

Boobs is a stupid word and I never, ever use the word cunt or lady parts

I like it. I find 'woman' rude and 'girl' a bit irritating (but at least not rude).

Interested, Ruggles - why is 'woman' rude?

YANBU, you can hate any word you want, go for your life.

Personally I like the words lady/ladies. I also like the words gentleman/men and use them in place of 'women' and 'men' unless I'm talking about someone horrible.

That's just my preference. I like how they sound and the old fashioned, polite connotations. That they ladies can be used in a condescending way and I hate that. But I think it's more to do with tone and situation.

Ruggles someone once asked me if I thought 'woman' was rude and that's why I taught dd to say lady. I don't find it rude, but it just feels a bit odd, like calling a little one 'that girl' or 'that boy'. I would find myself saying 'that little girl'. It's done without thinking. I don't find 'woman' rude, but somehow lady does seem more polite IYSWIM

If I was that business studies tutor I'd probably break the ice by having a quick vote on what the majority wanted to be called.

Then I could get it over with and concentrate on the important stuff.

It's really difficult with girls/ladies/women.

But I'm confident that 'hey guys', makes you sound like a twat.

I think it's quite funny when a Pervy man says 'hello ladies', it always makes him look like a bit of a plonker.

Can't say the use of 'ladies' bothers me at all tbh - oh apart from when my 4 Years older than me line manager calls me 'young lady', but I just find it odd as he is mostly normal in other aspects!

saucyjack I'd rather not be referred to as WOMAN!!!

It may be what I am and a girl may be what I used to be, but I am also lady, thank you very much.

I LOATHE 'lady'.

I can't think of a context in which I would use the equivalent, 'gentleman'.

Some white people say black lady/gentleman.

What does that mean?

I'm a white lady btw and I don't say it and I'm not judging my fellows but I do notice it.

YABU and overthinking it.
No issue with it whatsoever.

btw I think it's mostly said to be polite and mostly should be taken as such.

Do black people say white lady/gentleman in some circumstances?

I'm happy to expand and debate but won't at the moment because it's just too long.

Raddy I'll give you a recent example.

Walking down a narrow street with dd. A man is approaching us on her side.

Me: "Move over a little dd so that this gentleman can get past"

I know this is an old thread, but I agree with some of the points made here. Although I'm a man, "lady/ladies" makes me cringe in some situations. As members have said, it depends on context.

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack, "lady" isn't even the equivalent to "guy" or "dude". Both those terms are slangy, informal Americanisms and not polite or respectful terms in the way "lady" is, the counterpart of "lady" is "gentleman".

I also notice how "lady" is used much more than "gentleman" and "gentleman" is often only used in certain situations or in its proper sense, ie. "he's a real gentleman".

I can't see anything wrong with "lady" being used politely in situations where a man is called a "gentleman", ie:

ladies and gentlemen
This lady/gentleman has an appointment with...

But I cringe when I hear someone being called "young lady" or someone using the word loosely where "woman" would be more appropriate. Men or boys would be addressed as "young man" and never "young gentleman". I noticed how some people find "woman" rude in certain contexts, but not as many people seem to find saying "man" as rude.

A stranger referring to me as a lady is the least of my worries in life.