The word "Ladies"

odusgolp
odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
in Chit-Chat
In a professional setting, do you find the word "Ladies" appropriate? Inappropriate? Condescending? Does it matter if it's used in an email vs. in person?

Heated debate here....




Disclaimer: I'm referring to the word "Ladies" being used to address a group of women, not men, you freaks.
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Replies

  • JustAboutDelicious_wechanged
    JustAboutDelicious_wechanged Posts: 2,486 Member
    Ladies does not offend me, but I'm someone that does not easily offend at all. You could call me a nasty name and I would probably answer...hahaha.
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    I think in that instance, tone is what really matters most.
  • BlackStarDeceiver
    BlackStarDeceiver Posts: 590 Member
    In a professional setting, do you find the word "Ladies" appropriate? Inappropriate? Condescending? Does it matter if it's used in an email vs. in person?

    Heated debate here....




    Disclaimer: I'm referring to the word "Ladies" being used to address a group of women, not men, you freaks.

    I thought you were referring to the latrine.

    e.g. I need to go to the 'Ladies.'
  • Cr01502
    Cr01502 Posts: 3,614 Member
    Hello ladies . . .

    adult-swim-behind-bush_zps59d39504.gif
  • silvergurl518
    silvergurl518 Posts: 4,123 Member
    "ladies" doesn't bother me so much....but i hate being called "ma'am"!!!
  • JustAboutDelicious_wechanged
    JustAboutDelicious_wechanged Posts: 2,486 Member
    Hello ladies . . .

    adult-swim-behind-bush_zps59d39504.gif
    SEXY!!!!
  • diodelcibo
    diodelcibo Posts: 2,564 Member
    The tone of voice makes the difference.
  • CrazyAuntMartha
    CrazyAuntMartha Posts: 1
    Definitely condesending. We are women, not ladies. Ladies stay home and crochet doilies. Of course, in the Order of The British Empire, quite acceptable. But Maggie Thacher was a woman long before she became a Lady...
  • catrinaHwechanged
    catrinaHwechanged Posts: 4,907 Member
    Ladies, girls, women, ma'am......none of it bothers me
  • k8blujay2
    k8blujay2 Posts: 4,941 Member
    I would rather be called "lady" or lumped into "ladies" than to be called something else... *not a fan of being referred to as a ***** or *****es*
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    "Ladies" is fine as it corresponds to "Gentlemen". "Girls" is condescending.
  • lwagnitz
    lwagnitz Posts: 1,321 Member
    Irks my nerves. In soccer the girls would always be like "come on ladies" "you got this ladies"...it motivated me to run further away from them...so I guess it worked in a sense.
  • iulia_maddie
    iulia_maddie Posts: 2,780 Member
    I don't find it inappropriate. As for condescending, that's more of a matter of tone.
  • BabsyGirl
    BabsyGirl Posts: 4 Member
    I think, if anything, it's the least offensive thing you could use. In the example of coming into a meeting where everyone is a woman, and greeting them, there are non-gender-specific ways to approach the situation such as, "Welcome everyone!" but if they're all women anyway... I don't think ladies is offensive. I think other words such as "chick" or "woman" (mainly when used by someone in a derogatory way) could be offensive, but not ladies.
  • taunto
    taunto Posts: 6,420 Member
    I used to work as a clerk at a liquor store. I use to call them

    - Babe
    -Baby
    - Hey sexy
    - Love
    - My future ex wife
    - hi
  • nokanjaijo
    nokanjaijo Posts: 466 Member
    I generally like "Dames".

    Or "Wimmins". But not if you are speaking because people might think you are saying "Womens" which is offensive or "Women" which is insulting.

    In a business setting, I'd prefer to be referred to as "Femonitron" or the plural "Femonitronia" because it conveys a certain professionalism.
  • sweetzoejane
    sweetzoejane Posts: 153 Member
    Tone matters, but I think that is obviously.

    I work with women only, with the exception of our director who we rarely see, so I say "ladies" fairly often, email or in person. However, if I think about a man using it in the workplace, it seems strange. Not necessarily offensive, maybe condescending? I don't know. That's an interesting one to think about...
  • _DaniD_
    _DaniD_ Posts: 2,186 Member
    I don't see how it could possibly be considered inappropriate.
  • maiaroman18
    maiaroman18 Posts: 460 Member
    ladies is fine. calling me "woman" I can't stand.

    I guess I should clarify that by stating I heard the phrase "woman, fix me a steak" all to many times.
  • CorvusCorax77
    CorvusCorax77 Posts: 2,536 Member
    um. I am a lady, so I don't see the problem.
  • kelseyhere
    kelseyhere Posts: 1,123 Member
    Definitely condesending. We are women, not ladies. Ladies stay home and crochet doilies. Of course, in the Order of The British Empire, quite acceptable. But Maggie Thacher was a woman long before she became a Lady...

    but you wouldn't walk into a room and say "good morning women!" you'd say, "good morning ladies!"

    i don't see a problem with ladies. i would avoid "girls" in a professional setting, but ladies is fine.
  • tinak33
    tinak33 Posts: 9,883 Member
    "ladies" doesn't bother me so much....but i hate being called "ma'am"!!!


    ^^^ What she said.
  • saxmaniac
    saxmaniac Posts: 1,133 Member
    Definitely condesending. We are women, not ladies. Ladies stay home and crochet doilies. Of course, in the Order of The British Empire, quite acceptable. But Maggie Thacher was a woman long before she became a Lady...
    ladies is fine. calling me "woman" I can't stand.

    You can't call anyone anything without someone getting offended, so I'm always sure to address a group of women as "snozzberries". They're kind of confused at first, but, hey, it works. At the very worst, the amount of indignation is evenly distributed across the crowd, rather than concentrated in entirely on one chip-on-the-shoulder.
  • taunto
    taunto Posts: 6,420 Member
    "ladies" doesn't bother me so much....but i hate being called "ma'am"!!!

    ma'am you ma'am's need to make up your damn mind about what you ma'ams wanna be called, ma'am
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    Definitely condesending. We are women, not ladies. Ladies stay home and crochet doilies. Of course, in the Order of The British Empire, quite acceptable. But Maggie Thacher was a woman long before she became a Lady...
    ladies is fine. calling me "woman" I can't stand.

    You can't call anyone anything without someone getting offended, so I'm always sure to address a group of women as "snozzberries". They're kind of confused at first, but, hey, it works. At the very worst, the amount of indignation is evenly distributed across the crowd, rather than concentrated in entirely on one chip-on-the-shoulder.

    :heart:
  • TheWinman
    TheWinman Posts: 684 Member
    Broads?
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    I don't see how it could possibly be considered inappropriate.

    Agreed... but a male coworker asked me if it was appropriate or if we took offense to it. It had never even crossed my mind to be offended by it.
  • Fiesty1006
    Fiesty1006 Posts: 95 Member
    I think someone may be just looking for a reason to be offended with this one....lol.

    I'm not sure how being referred to as "ladies" is offensive... Now, a man saying "woman!" in a demanding, "come when I tell you to/do what I tell you" way... That's a different story.
  • _the_feniks_
    _the_feniks_ Posts: 3,412 Member
    Sausage wallets.
  • tinak33
    tinak33 Posts: 9,883 Member
    Broads?

    Love it.
    :heart:

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