little lady/little man

it is never correct to refer to an adult woman this way, and there is no acceptable substitute because the very notion is demeaning; "little man" is reserved for boys. It is also incorrect to refer to girls and boys this way because (1) a child is not an adult and should be allowed to be a child and (2) telling a child she is a little lady or he is a little man almost without exception is an attempt to perpetuate some cultural stereotype, for example, sitting quietly and neatly in the background (little lady) or not showing emotions (little man). The terms tell the child this is the desired, best behavior for all occasions.