Women or girls ?

Nurses General Nursing

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As a male going into a predominently female profession, it's important for me to use the right words.

Is it okay for a guy to refer to women as girls? If you hear a male nurse saying "girls" when talking of nurses does that sound right? I ask because I know the female nurses call each other girls, but I don't know if they would like if I did. To introduce the topic in real life might be taken wrong so I'll use this message board to get a feel, if anyone wants to chime in.

I remember when women didn't like to be called girls. Maybe I should just say "nurse" and keep it generic, but yet, i don't want to sound all stuffed either. ;)

in pairs and as opposites. For example:

Boys & Girls.....when it is appropriate to use boys, the corresponding pronoun is girls.

Girls & Boys

Ladies & Gentlemen

Women & Men

Keep it simple.

Before your time, there was a famous social upheaval and social protest movement in the 1970's. It was called "the Women's Liberation Movement." A lot of good laws were passed because of the women's marches and protests. Lots of female doctors and lawyers these days. Female cops and firefighters, (remember when the term was firemen?...mailman?) Lots of benefits, yes, from "Women's Libber's." And one of their complaints was being referred to as "girls". The secretarial pool was always "Girls". The bosses were men. In the hospital envoirment, the nurses are "Girls", and the doctors and male nurses are "Men." Only if we females allow you all to get away with it. If I were you, I would refer to any female past menarche as a woman. As we refer to all teen boys as "young men", as a sign of respect.

Specializes in Community Health Nurse.

As long as what you call me isn't "nasty, derogatory, insulting of my character, or belittling", I'll answer to almost anything! ;)

Specializes in Geriatrics, LTC.

I personally don't mind being called a girl, lady or women. Madam I hate, I'm not a female pimp and I'm not 90, so please leave madam of the list. :) When I refer to those I work with I refer to the men occasionally as male nurse (depending on what their first name is, if the name is Chris I say male nurse or male nursing assist because we have several Chris' working in the facilty) And as much as I hate to refer to them as male nurses or male nursing assistants, frankly people would just go looking for a female, so I'm left with no choice......anyhow I know that seemed to go off topic but the point is I refer to males that way and female staff members as ladies or women. When I'm referring to residents sometimes when I leave a room with 2 female residents in it I say "good night ladies."

You of all the names people could be called we should be happy that they refer to us as ladies, girls or women, there are worst names that I'm sure we have all been called by other staff, residents or patients!

Move south then you can just say "ya'll. LOL

Specializes in Geriatrics, LTC.

Actually I do say that too!! And I live in Michigan!! I get kidded about it all the time, I did live in TN (and absolutely loved it) but only for about 8 months, but I picked up the ya'll from my dad's side of the family they are all from TN.:)

Originally posted by dstout-rn

Move south then you can just say "ya'll. LOL

prn nurse pretty much hit it on the head.

If anyone refered to a male as boy, it would be taken wrong in 99% of the cases. Women are different, perhaps.

If you say, "one of the boys" then you refer to men who are in their own element and showing boy-like behavior. Sometimes its all mixed up.

I say "women" but I stand out when I say that. Women are used to being called girls, but men don't get called girls. Macho men :-)

Little girls. Girls have babies. Many men are absentee fathers.

"Ya'll cumon nouw, ya he-ya???" ~Jed Clampet

Some people get so offended with the word "people." Why?

We are people? Aren't we? I've worked with some "dogs," but saying, "come on now dogs" isn't appropriate and I'd get "chewed-up" for it for sure. Only kidding now...don't jump all over me. So, I like to hear Ladies and Gentlemen" or Guys n Gals, or "It's time everybody for report...cumon nouw, ya he-ya?"

Originally posted by Renee Williams

As long as what you call me isn't "nasty, derogatory, insulting of my character, or belittling", I'll answer to almost anything! ;)

:imbar :stone :roll that would be me answering to almost anything.........

ror(aka right on renee)

yoall come on now!!!!!!! hehehe.....southern in me saying I'll carry you on down a ways!!!!!!!!!

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Must Agree Jenny P.

'I think I refer to my friends and myself as "the girls" because I still picture myself as being young and vibrant; something that "women" or "ladies" don't seem to signify.

I look at my friends of 40+ years, and I don't see women of 50+; I see my friends: the ackward teen, the wild daredevil, the dynamic girl of my youth! I also see the beautiful brides, the caring young mothers, the car pool moms and so forth. We are still girls in our hearts, probably til the day we die and the only thing that reminds me of getting older is that dang mirror in the bathroom which shows every wrinkle and grey hair, espcially when I first get up and put on my glasses!'

Absolutely - when l trained in the dark ages - (hospital trained) we were all females therefore girls - male nurse were generally as scarrce as hens teeth

Now l have to be careful for two reason - not to refer my residents as 'girls'- (they are mostly 80+ in the most and not to call the male students when l am addressing the group girls-I always aplogise profusely - :imbar

Tookie

Specializes in ICU/CCU (PCCN); Heme/Onc/BMT.

At work, just to be silly, I call the male nurse(s) "girls" and the female nurse(s) "guys". Seems to help keep the mood slightly playful in a place where work can be quite stressful at times (I work in an ICU).

Cheers:)

place. If you tried that in N.Y. City, I am afraid you would be set straight, joking or not, big city male R.N.'s that I work with would set you straight once and after that..... well...

My wife is a good girl. My husband is a good boy. The girls on the shift did their jobs well. The boys came in to help with a heavy client. Most girls who have two jobs make good mothers. A boy who works hard to provide for his family deserves respect. My grandpa was a good boy. Take your medicine like a good girl. I love my mom because she is the type of girl you can talk to anytime. My father is a respected boy in the community. The boys are back in town. Smoking in the boys room. Someday you'll be a full grown girl. Girl power. Girlfriend. Boyfriend. I asked the girl behind the desk to help me. The boy came to my bedside and offered assistance. Bozo performed tricks for all the happy boys and girls.

Mario beat it to death :-) Why? Personal amusement.

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