Is the term "ladies" offensive?

[annerk]

Sometimes it's not what you say, but how you say it.

[opalminor]

Here's your answer: No. Unless you said it in a really creepy way or you weren't looking at their faces...! People are always looking for something new to be offended by.... it's getting way old.

[JustJulia]

Originally Posted by JS1

This thread is just ridiculous. Look up male and female in the dictionary, and you will see that they can be used as a noun or adjective.

Yes, you're right. I spoke too strongly when I said "male" is not a noun. It can be a noun or adjective. As an adjective, it means a male creature, such as an animal or plant: anything that can fertilize a female creature.

That's why it's dehumanizing. If I say, "Males are so aggressive," I could be talking about dogs or pigs.

Back to the OP, there's nothing rude or dehumanizing about being called a lady or gentleman. Miss Manners says it's OK, and I stick with what she says unless there's some specific law I should see.

By the way, a group of women can be addressed as "Ladies," but a single woman is addressed as "Ma'am." A woman can be called "a lady" ("Please help this lady to her car") but should not be addressed as "lady" ("May I help you, lady?"). Therefore, when speaking to a group of men and one woman, the address is "Gentlemen and Ma'am," not "Gentlemen and Lady." Likewise, one man is addressed as "Sir," not "Gentleman." ("Ladies and Sir.")

[JustJulia]

Originally Posted by JustJulia

["Male"] can be a noun or adjective. As an adjective, it means a male creature, such as an animal or plant: anything that can fertilize a female creature.

Oops, I just saw a typo and it's too late to correct it. That bolded word should be noun.

[glass_of_merlot]

Originally Posted by Stranded and Lonely

At work I got written up for use an offense term. What was this terrible term?

"Ladies"

I was walking through the lunch room and a group of women were sitting together and I said, "how are you ladies doing today" (That is all I said.)

A few hours later I was called into my bosses office and he said there had been a complaint about me from some of the women in the room. They said my use of the word "ladies" was sexist and offense.

I tried to talk him out of putting a formal notice in my file but he would not listen to logic. He agreed I was being offensive and sexist and now I am on notice. It bordered on sexual harassment in his mind.

So, is the term ladies offensive?

I guess you might as well have said -how are you ******* doing-

[LynchburgLover]

Here's an anecdote. Teenage son held open a door for a "lady" who snapped that she was perfectly capable of opening it herself. He was upset. I told him if it happens again to say "I didn't hold it open because you are a lady; I held it open because I am a gentleman."

[Susan815]

Originally Posted by LynchburgLover

Here's an anecdote. Teenage son held open a door for a "lady" who snapped that she was perfectly capable of opening it herself. He was upset. I told him if it happens again to say "I didn't hold it open because you are a lady; I held it open because I am a gentleman."

Great!