Words you f*cking hate.

VEGANGELICA · 07-18-2010, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boo boo

"Girl" is a derogatory term? Oh veggie that's extreme even for you. I don't consider it to be at all, I use it often, though less when regarding seniors in which case I say "lady". Woman does have a much more dignified vibe to it though, it's like man, but with 2 extra letters.

Also I use "gal" a LOT, it's standard southern etiquette and is pretty much just the female equivalent of "guy".

In professional settings, calling a woman a "girl" would definitely be derotagory, I feel. For example, if someone refers to a female politician or police officer as a girl, that is probably to reduce her status and power.

But I agree with you that in a college setting people often refer to a group of "girls" and a group of "guys" just out of habit without meaning anything derogatory by it. Yet to me it still sounds like people are trying to make women seem less than fully adult. "Guy" at least doesn't have any age connotation to it.

When I hear someone referring to a woman as a "gal," I always think he's going to slap her ass or something.

Yep, woman = wo man. Sigh.