He used the phrase the girls to describe two adult women.

[cherryblossomgin]

Christmas was great but something stuck out to me, at the time I said nothing but it annoyed me and Its still annoying me. DS BF called me and DS the girls and the moment he said it I internally cringed and wanted to say something but I didn't. I'm 31 she is 30. AIBU to be bothered by this. I know its not a major issue and overall he is nice guy.

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It’s only an issue on here. Men get called
Boys at my work all the time.

Normal language, find something else to get your knickers in a twist about

Sorry you were misgendered.

Would depend on the context for me, it's not a wording that necessarily offends- however seems one that can be divisive. If you don't like amd feel strongly, ask him not to. Personally as long as they weren't using it a way that was derogate even, I wouldn't ind and have used it and ,the boys' myself

Glad you found something to be offended about, that will make your Christmas no doubt, now have a

Jeez if only I had the headspace to even notice things like this. It’s really, REALLY nothing to get worked up about. There are much worse things going on in the world. I don’t think I would have even registered this.

Talk about looking for offence! Couldn't you find something else to be upset over?
I don't know anyone who would take offence at this when it's not in a demeaning manner.

Have another sherry dear.

I would like to be called a girl but not an old gal.

Eh? I remember my mother - a strident feminist - telling me a few years ago that she had met a “new girl” at her weekly bridge session. Both my mum and the new girl were well into their 80s. 😂

Thank you to those who clarified the use of DS and BF, solved my pre coffee confusion.

I seriously can't believe that anyone would have such an over-reaction to normal every day language. There are groups at my work referred to as girls and boys, no one thinks anything of it

Being called a girl in this context wouldn’t bother me, OP may well be feeling a bit battered by some of the comments though!

Season of good will getting a bit much for some of you girls??

Oh for fucks sake get a grip

If this is the most upsetting thing that happened to you at Christmas I think you must have had a pretty good one. Focus on that thought instead.

Really???? This is such a non issue.

Just to clarify I wasn't majorly offended but it just stuck out to me and I didn't like being called it. I wondered if it was a normal reaction to the phrase. I wouldn't say anything to him.

Gosh how terrible. Call the police.

I cant imagine life so boring to even care.

DS is my sister. Sorry I didn't make that clear. Also I'm prepared to hear that IABU for internally cringing at a normal phrase.

No, I don't like it either, it's patronising, sexist and infantilising. Noone really uses 'boys' to refer to grown men; they say lads, guys, or blokes.

But all you can really do is call it out at the time. I raise an eyebrow and say, "I haven't been a girl for over a decade, mate"

In what way is it sexist?

Because you wouldn't refer to a group of males as children. Unless they were.

Would sound odd if he referred to you as "the women" would it not?

My friends and I would sometimes refer to adult men as the boys - a group of DHs for eg. Get over it!!

Get a life OP