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When in doubt, play it safe and use the term "women." As someone old enough to have a daughter in college but still very young at heart, I like to be referred to as a "girl." However, this is a personal preference. I have the same problem as you when I refer to the aides. Though I don't mind the use of the term "girl" in reference to myself, I don't want my use of that term in reference to others to be seen as an attitude of superiority, or worse yet, as an issue of race. Play it safe. :)
Yes - for me, a girl is a teenager. I detect women are somewhat concerned with how old others think they are, and thats why they use girl. For me, as a male, i will always render repect with the words I choose. It just sounds funny when I say "women", and the female nurses and students all say "girls." I hate to sound all stuck up, but respect is respect.
To me, a woman is my peer, a gal is younger than me, or a peer too, but i want to say lady when refering to a woman who is senior to me. Not just refering to staff, but to clients/patients as well. Maybe I shouldn't make a deal of it.
I get irritated when sales people, bank tellers, etc call me honey, dear sweetie, etc. I am pushing 30 years old and detest being called these names. I NEVER call my pt's sweetie, honey dear..etc. It is demeaning and condescending. And I am a woman now, I left girlhood behind many years ago.
mario_ragucci
1,041 Posts
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.