Women (and how they "see" themselves)

1. 66

   MsQuestionposted 14 years ago

   Why do grown women (even those in their forties and fifties, like on the "Real Housewives shows)insist on referring to themselves as "girls" all the time?  do they think "woman" is a dirty word?

   replyreport
   1. 68

      Michael Willisposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Hmm, they want to believe they are younger than they really are?

      replyreport
2. 61

   Jonathan Jancoposted 14 years ago

   Women usually refer to themselves as girls when they want to be viewed less seriously. Girl carries greater sex appeal than the word woman. It presents less of a threat to men. A girl is someone who laughs at your jokes, looks pretty, parties with you and your friends and gives you a big, wet kiss good night.
   A woman is someone who takes all of your favorite fashion fau pax's out of your dresser and secretly burns them while you're at a pool tournament because she's tired of you embarassing her in public.

   replyreport
   1. 74

      the pink umbrellaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      woah...hittin close to home? lol

      replyreport
3. 53

   kmackey32posted 14 years ago

   I love me.....lol

   replyreport
4. 70

   shimmering Dawnposted 14 years ago

   What about being young at heart lol

   replyreport
5. 60

   dingdondingdonposted 14 years ago

   Because our society fetishizes youth, especially in women. Being a "girl" carries connotations of attractiveness and sexual appeal, while "women" is more often used (outside of an official capacity) to imply someone is over the hill, or undesirable in some way.

   replyreport
6. 0

   just_curiousposted 14 years ago

   I have to deal with this a lot at work. It's part and parcel to the whole package, which includes baby voices, getting 'offended' when men respond to their flirting, yada yada. It's insecurity. They have a need to remind themselves that they're still young and desirable. It would be nice if they could see themselves as more than a piece of meat but like they say, 'you can't teach an old dog new tricks'. (and before anyone gets offended, I'm in the same age group. So I can call it like I see it)

   replyreport
   1. 66

      MsQuestionposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      This is all very fascinating and enlightening.  So what I'm gathering is that to a LOT of people, woman IS sort of a dirty word (especially to that guy who answered up there.....) that's a shame, though.  MAN is not a dirty word, right?  Unless it's a dirty old man, but that's something different!  I mean the word MAN in general!  Why can't woman mean someone who is sexually mature, but in a GOOD way - and also someone who likes to flirt and party and give a big wet kiss, but just happens to be over the age of 21?  I guess it's society, like you say!  thanks for replying!  Or..keep replying..this is interesting!

      replyreport
      1. 0

         just_curiousposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         You noticed the man thing too? I found when I call a man a boy, after he's called me a girl, it never ends well. You're right though. Women should celebrate the fact that they are mature, experienced and wiser than they were. I'm sure  most men in the age group do too, on some levels, if they take the time to think.

         replyreport
7. 60

   SomewayOuttaHereposted 14 years ago

   ...i am one of those that prefers to be referred to as a woman and not a girl...i feel the same about using the word men and not boys....i find girl does not describe me...i'm not a girl - i was.....
   
   ...sometimes I may joke around and say gurrrl - but that's when i'm teasing - otherwise I'm a woman....roooooaaaarrrr!
   
   ...and if I run into the word girl/boy in my work environment i correct it...unless of course someone is a girl/boy.

   replyreport
8. 0

   Home Girlposted 14 years ago

   Give us a break, girls! Who wants to be an old woman? Really.
   Old girl sounds ... better?

   replyreport