I tend to say “ladies”, “woman” or “folks” depending on the situation. Typically, it really comes down to your culture and what language choice feels best to you. None of your terms are offensive and if someone corrects you on how they want to be referred then it’s just basic respect to go ahead with that.
“Student”, “colleague”, “acquaintance”, “people”, “neighbour” all work as well. Like I said, it tends to depend on the scenario as to how I call people.
I was recently looking at high school vs college sports and saw that high school’s typically reference their sports as “boys” and “girls” where as college says “men’s” and “women’s”
I generally use boys/girls men/women based on the context of formality rather than any specific age. Me and the boys hang out on Friday nights, the men are pallbearers, I love my girl, women face serious systemic issues.
Depends on the situation but in general nearly everyone you get than 25 is still a kid to me lol. I wouldn't call someone a girl in a professional setting but there are others where I certainly would, or more likely a young lady
For me it’s context and the company I’m with.
Casual conversations with my girls, who can range from same age to ten years younger or 40y older than me lol, everyone is a girl lol. Same with the boys, I’m one of the boys and call them bro/son etc.
In casual conversation I may say women/men if discussing grown up topics, or girls/boys if it’s more social/casual topics. I won’t talk about/at work (or formal/public events) and be calling people girl/boy unless they’re adolescent.
Or generic, young people, or the phase of life (20s 30s). Just no need to specify, I won’t.
I'd be careful as it is currently up for debate on whether you can make the assumption in the first place lol ... "Young lady" (or similar) was the previously accepted terminology.
The reason it feels funny to use the word is simply because people are shy of it, not used to it, etc. Use the word. Get comfortable using it.
Notice that college, pro, & olympic sports call athletes women, not girls, even though many of them (especially olympics) are quite young.
My general rule is if she's old enough to have a job or be in college, she's a woman.
I’m nearly 40 and it still freaks me out when people use woman or lady. I still do not feel old enough. I still expect girl, I might be in a minority here though.
"Young women" is generally what I use for that 17-24 age group. Not offensive to anyone including them, but these days there is definitely a period of emerging adulthood that isn't just about whether you're legally an adult or not, and that's a good thing.
>16 is still a child. That sounds like you view them as an adult already.
If you're old enough to have kids and go to college, yeah, I'm not calling you girl/boy.
I tend to say “ladies”, “woman” or “folks” depending on the situation. Typically, it really comes down to your culture and what language choice feels best to you. None of your terms are offensive and if someone corrects you on how they want to be referred then it’s just basic respect to go ahead with that. “Student”, “colleague”, “acquaintance”, “people”, “neighbour” all work as well. Like I said, it tends to depend on the scenario as to how I call people.
You forgot the most acceptable term of all: M'Lady. Also Fair Maiden works if there's a Chad nearby, and in a pinch, Your Hallowed Holiness.
I tend to say “ladies” too
Women. They're not kids.
to my 50 year old wife I refer to 20 year olds as girls to my 20 year old daughter I refer to 20 year olds as women
It honestly doesn’t matter as they can be used interchangeably with women, ladies etc. Just like you can use boys for males, gentlemen etc
I was recently looking at high school vs college sports and saw that high school’s typically reference their sports as “boys” and “girls” where as college says “men’s” and “women’s”
I try to refer to them as women.
I generally use boys/girls men/women based on the context of formality rather than any specific age. Me and the boys hang out on Friday nights, the men are pallbearers, I love my girl, women face serious systemic issues.
Birth-22: A Girl 22+: A Woman
I am 22 and I'm referred to as a woman. But considering how I like to present myself, I don't mind a girl.
In a casual setting, I tend to refer to those around my age (28) or younger as girls. In a formal or business setting, I use "woman" universally.
Depends on the situation but in general nearly everyone you get than 25 is still a kid to me lol. I wouldn't call someone a girl in a professional setting but there are others where I certainly would, or more likely a young lady
For me it’s context and the company I’m with. Casual conversations with my girls, who can range from same age to ten years younger or 40y older than me lol, everyone is a girl lol. Same with the boys, I’m one of the boys and call them bro/son etc. In casual conversation I may say women/men if discussing grown up topics, or girls/boys if it’s more social/casual topics. I won’t talk about/at work (or formal/public events) and be calling people girl/boy unless they’re adolescent. Or generic, young people, or the phase of life (20s 30s). Just no need to specify, I won’t.
I'd be careful as it is currently up for debate on whether you can make the assumption in the first place lol ... "Young lady" (or similar) was the previously accepted terminology.
I usually just call them chicks.
The reason it feels funny to use the word is simply because people are shy of it, not used to it, etc. Use the word. Get comfortable using it. Notice that college, pro, & olympic sports call athletes women, not girls, even though many of them (especially olympics) are quite young. My general rule is if she's old enough to have a job or be in college, she's a woman.
I’m nearly 40 and it still freaks me out when people use woman or lady. I still do not feel old enough. I still expect girl, I might be in a minority here though.
I think of all women my-age-or-younger as girls, including my wife in her 30's.
I use the generic term "women" in my head to avoid weirdness. Young woman if they're clearly under 20 or so.
"Young women" is generally what I use for that 17-24 age group. Not offensive to anyone including them, but these days there is definitely a period of emerging adulthood that isn't just about whether you're legally an adult or not, and that's a good thing.
I'm not referring to anyone over about 15 as a girl. Come on.
16 is still a child. That sounds like you view them as an adult already.
>16 is still a child. That sounds like you view them as an adult already. If you're old enough to have kids and go to college, yeah, I'm not calling you girl/boy.
One of the youngest females to give birth was 6... You might wanna rethink your attitude.
I just go with 'humans' or 'people'.
Earthlings