Is Referring to Women as “Girls” Offensive?

As I’m ‘Vegan Girl’ and not ‘Vegan Woman,’ I figured I’d provide my two cents.

Some say that referring to a female over the age of 18 is infantilizing and dismissive, but it should depend on how the term is used.

The official definition of ‘woman’ is an adult female human being. The official definition of ‘adult’ is a person who is fully grown or developed. In most countries, like the U.S., the legal age of adulthood is 18. The official definition of ‘girl’ is a female child or adolescent.

When strictly looking at definitions, referring to an American female over the age of 18 as a girl would be incorrect. However, the official definition of ‘dude’ is a man or guy. In the 21st century, ‘dude’ has become a gender-neutral term that people refer to friends as in a calm environment. I believe ‘girl’ can be used the same way.

For example, my husband and I call each other ‘girl’ as a term of endearment. Here are some of our favorite phrases:

“Get it, girl!” “Love you, girl!” “Hey, girl!” and so on.

I chose to be ‘Vegan Girl" as a reference to Gossip Girl, plus it sounds much better than ‘Vegan Woman.’

My great-aunt calls my grandmother ‘girl,’ my mother calls her friends ‘the girls,’ and so on. I think referring to your friends, regardless of their gender or age, as ‘girl’ is not the issue that many people have attempted to claim it is.

We should refer to each other as we solely choose to be referred to. My issue with this conversation is that many people on social media comment on situations where someone pays an adult female a compliment like “Looking good, girl!” and someone else chimes in and replies, “You mean ‘woman’…”

Another testament to this argument is how the word is used. If the word is prefaced with ‘little’ and/or said in a condescending tone, it has a very different meaning. This way of speaking and using the word ‘girl’ is misogynistic and anti-feminist. It should never be used in this way.

If a man is referring to you as ‘girl,’ you should be able to call him ‘boy’ or even ‘girl’ in the same conversation. If he does not allow you to refer to him as such, chances are, he was using it in a way that he intended to be dismissive.

To summarize, we should allow adult females to choose how they are referred to. I am a woman, but I love being called ‘girl’ in friendly settings. In professional settings, I am to be referred to and seen as a woman. If I am being referred to as ‘girl’ by an adult male in a conversation, I should be able to refer to him as ‘boy’ or even ‘girl’ in the same conversation. Speaking for other women on mundane issues like this one is very anti-feminist. Referring to adult females as ‘girls’ in a friendly manner is not a harmful rhetoric that will damage the future of womanhood, nor is it an issue that requires intervention. This “issue” does not require the attention it has obtained. However, conversations like these are very important to the betterment of womankind.