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tblue37

(68,383 posts)

113. Nope. "Ladies" is definitely not sanctioned. Young women = OK, but NOT "ladies.

Thu Mar 20, 2014, 06:30 PM

Mar 2014

At age 63 I am old enough (and have the long-term feminist cred) to know not only that we don't like to be called "ladies," but also WHY we don't. It's because the label is used to insist on "ladylike" (I.e., submissive and constrained) behavior from women.

If you are going to play word police, you need to get it right. Under most circumstances (though not *all*) "gals" is an OK colloquialism--but "ladies" is not.

ON EDIT: "gal" = NOT OK when used to demean, as in "his gal Friday."Just think about where the sobriquet "Friday" comes from. In "Robinson Crusoe" "my man Friday" was racist and oppressive. "His gal Friday" would be used the same way--to suggest subservience and service is owed to someone "superior." Just as "man" is not offensive in "my man Friday," but the phrase itself and its implication is, so too "gal" is not what is offensive about "his gal Friday."

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Check out some of the pretty gals in Beijing... [View all] Playinghardball Mar 2014 OP

gals?? mzteris Mar 2014 #1

Oh Stop it. NYC_SKP Mar 2014 #3

+1 Go Vols Mar 2014 #15

yeah, i know people who've mzteris Mar 2014 #49

lol Go Vols Mar 2014 #61

What can you expect from mzteris Mar 2014 #63

Not starting off well Go Vols Mar 2014 #68

that was meant mzteris Mar 2014 #90

awesome sub thread, thanks! snooper2 Mar 2014 #72

More like "hijacked-thread" if you ask me. PCIntern Mar 2014 #76

Here's a gal chiming in Dude! VanillaRhapsody Mar 2014 #82

Well, there is a fail here. Raine1967 Mar 2014 #77

This isn't the same and you know it. Warpy Mar 2014 #89

I'm sorry, but I don't mzteris Mar 2014 #91

Oooooooohhhhh! You said "Dick"! nt tblue37 Mar 2014 #109

+2 Jamaal510 Mar 2014 #23

"Guys! Gals!"-sarah Palin ErikJ Mar 2014 #24

oh well - mzteris Mar 2014 #50

Wouldn't be my choice, Feral Child Mar 2014 #33

I'm sorry, but no mzteris Mar 2014 #48

This message was self-deleted by its author panader0 Mar 2014 #74

well, I guess you told me! mzteris Mar 2014 #92

I have deleted my post panader0 Mar 2014 #110

I'm fine with it. Neoma Mar 2014 #106

I am a woman and a feminist--and "gals" doesn't bother me-- though being called a "girl" would. tblue37 Mar 2014 #111

Not agreeing or disagreeing, Reter Mar 2014 #133

Spot on madokie Mar 2014 #123

Cute! Guys and Gals.. is there such Cha Mar 2014 #131

+1... TeeYiYi Mar 2014 #4

As a man that no longer calls himself a feminist because of all the petty complaints, A Simple Game Mar 2014 #20

In this particular case... TeeYiYi Mar 2014 #25

You're over-reacting. Feral Child Mar 2014 #37

I'm not the word police... TeeYiYi Mar 2014 #39

That seems a more reasonable statement Feral Child Mar 2014 #43

+1000. Nt. Lunacee_2013 Mar 2014 #41

How? I do NOT see it... VanillaRhapsody Mar 2014 #83

Neither do I. Owl Mar 2014 #128

I didn't think you would give me an alternative word. A Simple Game Mar 2014 #101

Take your pick of sexist colloquialisms and knock yourself out, SimpleGame... TeeYiYi Mar 2014 #140

You're probably right with your last sentence. A Simple Game Mar 2014 #141

But but but--I think Pres. Obama is a pretty cool guy. nt tblue37 Mar 2014 #112

And I think this is a pretty cool response...guy or gal! VanillaRhapsody Mar 2014 #134

you're no longer a feminist mzteris Mar 2014 #51

I don't wish to be associated with the likes of some so called feminists on this board, they A Simple Game Mar 2014 #104

Nope. "Ladies" is definitely not sanctioned. Young women = OK, but NOT "ladies. tblue37 Mar 2014 #113

"Ladies" is a no-no too? What about First Lady? Owl Mar 2014 #129

Grandfathered (grandmothered?) in as a traditional "title.". nt tblue37 Mar 2014 #130

Men who think it is within their purview to declare which issues feminists concern themselves with redqueen Mar 2014 #62

And self proclaimed feminists that leech onto any perceived outrage are A Simple Game Mar 2014 #102

Sure dude. redqueen Mar 2014 #103

As I usually do yours. n/t A Simple Game Mar 2014 #105

You are not alone in that. Jamastiene Mar 2014 #29

I've been told by my African American coworker not to call her a gal wryter2000 Mar 2014 #31

I'm a gal. Have been since I wasn't a baby. loudsue Mar 2014 #30

So you can't use "guys" to informally identify a group of males of mixed ages? elfin Mar 2014 #5

I use guys as a genderless address. Gals is antiquated. Ed Suspicious Mar 2014 #9

Same here on the use of guys and pretty for the Flotus. JimDandy Mar 2014 #19

fwiw, I've been told not to d_r Mar 2014 #99

While my personal proclivities mzteris Mar 2014 #53

+1 theHandpuppet Mar 2014 #18

I'm 69 and I see nothing wrong with that term Plucketeer Mar 2014 #22

Of course not, mzteris Mar 2014 #54

School this ignorant geezer Plucketeer Mar 2014 #126

Nothing like hi jacking tread for your own self centered upaloopa Mar 2014 #32

Exactly n/t godai Mar 2014 #69

For fuck's sake NV Whino Mar 2014 #35

It all starts with respect mzteris Mar 2014 #55

For the record NV Whino Mar 2014 #71

LOL, I honestly have no idea if you are serious or joking. n-t Logical Mar 2014 #36

Ahem. LadyHawkAZ Mar 2014 #47

! opiate69 Mar 2014 #52

so? mzteris Mar 2014 #59

so then you say your son gets to decide what he wants to be called....but YOU step in to tell us VanillaRhapsody Mar 2014 #84

Well, next time I'm at the White House mzteris Mar 2014 #95

Snork! LadyHawkAZ Mar 2014 #116

You made that thread get edited snooper2 Mar 2014 #73

Number 10 Raine1967 Mar 2014 #78

She ended up editing "gals" to "women"--probably because of this thread. tblue37 Mar 2014 #118

I see sea had no problem with "gals" until the fauxrage here. Vashta Nerada Mar 2014 #125

Leave it to you BainsBane Mar 2014 #135

I think you posted to the wrong person LadyHawkAZ Mar 2014 #136

You think wrong BainsBane Mar 2014 #137

I did read it LadyHawkAZ Mar 2014 #138

Please lighten up; I use it, too, and I R one. nt babylonsister Mar 2014 #56

You know I like and respect you mzteris Mar 2014 #60

It's not allowed in the workplace? Says who? And I don't babylonsister Mar 2014 #65

and I am in total agreement with you...this is kneejerk nonsense! VanillaRhapsody Mar 2014 #85

I'm sorry, but mzteris Mar 2014 #96

not in any place I've worked in mzteris Mar 2014 #87

What you're saying has a lot of merit. Look how time has marginalized other words such as R B Garr Mar 2014 #132

What do you mean it's not allowed in the work place? Sissyk Mar 2014 #114

It's the female for "guys." I think it's suitable for all ages, in a casual context. MADem Mar 2014 #81

Damn, I guess I'm gonna lose a few more points ... oldhippie Mar 2014 #94

Wow. Really? Vashta Nerada Mar 2014 #124

And goodwill to all men. WhiteTara Mar 2014 #127

Gorgeous! Whisp Mar 2014 #2

I'm glad to see Marian Robinson getting out and about Brother Buzz Mar 2014 #6

Jeebus, look at Malia LittleBlue Mar 2014 #7

Malia is absolutely beautiful and Sasha asjr Mar 2014 #21

She looks so much like her father! nt tblue37 Mar 2014 #119

After a long flight I am not smiling like that. iandhr Mar 2014 #8

I might be smiling Mr.Bill Mar 2014 #27

LOL think4yourself Mar 2014 #40

+1 iandhr Mar 2014 #70

Pretty smart gals indeed. n/t eggplant Mar 2014 #10

Nice fix! deurbano Mar 2014 #13

The rest of the thread is just flame bait. Sigh. eggplant Mar 2014 #14

"Pretty" is sexist. Unless you call men that too The Straight Story Mar 2014 #11

"Sexist" is offensive. Orrex Mar 2014 #12

I *totally* think men can be pretty! DeadLetterOffice Mar 2014 #44

only the ignorant think that JI7 Mar 2014 #57

I call men handsome.... VanillaRhapsody Mar 2014 #86

Yep - any one way term is sexist by it's nature The Straight Story Mar 2014 #97

OOOOOOH! The republicans are not going to like this. Chuckie Todd is probably mfcorey1 Mar 2014 #16

"Look at Moochelle traveling on the taxpayers' dime again" tarheelsunc Mar 2014 #34

The lunatics have been pitching a fit in my local rag for a week now. GoCubsGo Mar 2014 #107

Lovely. I'm a 65 year old woman who marched in many protests and burned my bra. OregonBlue Mar 2014 #17

Amen, OregonBlue Glitterati Mar 2014 #120

What will FOX and Rush say this trip cost the U.S. taxpayers? Laf.La.Dem. Mar 2014 #26

5 zillion and thats why corporations can't increase wages for Americans. Iliyah Mar 2014 #45

Eleventy brazillion! nt tblue37 Mar 2014 #121

What is that on Sasha's hand? surrealAmerican Mar 2014 #28

It's a thumb brace. Xithras Mar 2014 #46

Lovely photograph. Feral Child Mar 2014 #38

Is it just me or do the daughters resemble their parents? KansDem Mar 2014 #42

Funny how that works... babylonsister Mar 2014 #58

i think malia looks more like her mother ,especially the high cheekbones JI7 Mar 2014 #66

No, Malia has her dad's eyebrows, smile, and facial structure. I think Sascha resembles her maternal tblue37 Mar 2014 #122

Wow the girls* have gotten so big... one_voice Mar 2014 #64

Sasha will be a teenager this year JI7 Mar 2014 #67

Malia will be old enough to drive... one_voice Mar 2014 #75

Tuned in to see some nice comments on the Obama Family rurallib Mar 2014 #79

As it happens 4 generations of female family members are here at the house tularetom Mar 2014 #80

I'd say I agree with mzteris Mar 2014 #93

Raw: First Lady Arrives in Beijing - VIDEO Tx4obama Mar 2014 #88

Oh darn, you got me on that one!!!! coldbeer Mar 2014 #98

for a second I thought Niceguy1 Mar 2014 #108

Love those gals! zappaman Mar 2014 #100

'Gal' is suddenly an offensive term? Jetboy Mar 2014 #115

Great photo, thanks. n/t LadyHawkAZ Mar 2014 #117

Stunning beauties! n/t Triana Mar 2014 #139