Excuse me girls!

[C0rdelia]

Twice, in 2 days, a female work colleague has referred to me and another colleague as 'girls' in a dismissive/superior way. A red mist is beginning to form in front of my eyes. WIBU to reply, "sorry babes", if she repeats this behaviour? She is 70 and I am mid 50s.

Next time she does it look confused and look behind you!

Wouldn't bother me. I'd call her 'dear' in return.

She is a generation older than you, to her you probably are girls. Its hardly an insult. She didnt call you "the middle aged women", which I would find far more "insulting".

'to her you probably are girls'

As I'm 30, and 70 seems so far away would INBU to call her an 'old dear'? Cos I reckon I would be.

I can't convey the air of superiority when she says it. The first time, I laughed as I thought it was a joke, the second time, the mist formed. We have worked in the same environment for 6 years so I don't know where this 'girls' crap is coming from.

The other colleague is 60 and less of a 'girl' than I am.

Definitely ignore her / draw attention to your actual name.

Possible Replies:-

"Who do you think you are...Joyce Grenfell?"
"Wow, I didn't know we were auditioning for "Mallory Towers"
"Yesss Missss" in a bored teen voice.

Bump. Just because I want to hit 10 posts.

I once spoke to an all women group where the chair called them girls. The youngest there was 73. I think it's an age thing based on reading too much Angela Brazil at an impressionable age.

Would you prefer her to come out and say "Excuse me, women"? That sounds rude to me.

What would you prefer?
How about "Now then ladies?"
Whatever you would prefer, suggest it to her next time. Then if she persists start calling her a golden oldie, or Old timer, or something mildly offensive in return.

how could you take it seriously ? it's just a jokey thing at the end of the day, hardly insulting, it's nice to have your name used but to 'read' out a list of names is too much like the school register when addressing a group of people.