girl (referring to a woman)

woman, young woman. "Girl" is reserved for pre-teens or at the most for those 15 or under; it is objectionable and demeaning when used by men for young women or women. Among women, the term has enjoyed a resurgence of popularity, with the Guerrilla Girls in the mid-'80s and the mainstreaming of African American usages ("girlfriend" and "You go, girl!"). "Girl" is seen on T-shirts and in names like Cybergrrl and Riot Grrrls. "No longer just a badge of youth or a sign of silliness, servitude, or class difference, 'Girl!' has become a mark of pride in one's gender, a sarcastic scoff at those who for centuries patronized females with its use" (Jessica B. Baker, Lilith). For others to refer to women this way is unacceptable—particularly in the workplace. Pro basketball player Mariah Burton Nelson notes the use of "girl" as an insult in sports, as in "you play/throw/catch like a girl." See also girl Friday, girlfriend, insider/outsider rule, office boy/office girl, like a girl.