Ladies: do you find it insulting when people start a question with the word "Ladies"?

Question

It seems to me to be a logical thing to do if I want to hear what ladies have to think about some subject. I was surprised to read many women are insulted by the term or cast dispersions on someone asking a question of ladies. Do you really assume someone is asking something negative if they ask only ladies for their opinions?

There was another question recently, and almost all of the women said the term insulted them.

Answer 1

I'm not offended when someone calls me a lady. A lady is a woman that has good manners or has a high social standing. It's polite to refer to a woman as a lady. There's also nothing wrong with someone wanting only a woman's opinion on something and using a polite word to draw their attention.

Answer 2

It is true in the south men are gentlemen and have better manners. But I was always taught it was the proper way of addressing a woman. I tend to respect the person addressing me if he calls me a "lady." If I address a man I address him as "Sir" unless I know them well enough to call them by name.

If a man who was a complete stranger or only a slight acquaintance were to address me as baby, baby doll or sweet cheeks, I would be more than offended. I wouldn't give them the time of day.

Answer 3

I don't find it the least bit insulting,,,and much preferable to Dames or Babes or Women Folk or Females or a lot of other words they could use.

and no, I don't assume something negative is being asked..just something you'd like a Lady's viewpoint on...

jess f...I'm "old"...and certainly don't take offense

Answer 4

I always strive to be a lady, and when someone actually addresses me as such, I feel honored to have achieved my goal!

Oh, and while a true lady never corrects another "in public" the term is to "cast aspersions" ...

a false or misleading charge meant to harm someone's reputation

Have a polite day, kind sir!

Answer 5

No I don't find it insulting. If you are trying to get the attention of a group of women, what are you supposed to call them? Everyone is WAY too oversensitive. A lady is a lady, plural is ladies. These women who are insulted need to get over themselves.

Answer 6

There's so many whores out there these days, yes, I'm sure you'll have some women who would object to you calling them a lady. They would be the ones who would say, you are not keeping real or you're behind the times or some other crazy crap they saw on MTV or VH1.

Answer 7

I'm surprised that anyone was offended by this, but I suppose there might be some context in which it might be offensive... I can't think of any, but anything's possible.

Oh! I just thought of one... if you were speaking to a group consisting of both nobility and commoners, and you only wanted input from the nobility, the commoners might feel slighted. *grin*

But seriously, gentlemen, call me a lady whenever you like.

Answer 8

That's crazy that they would be insulted. Ladies is the respectful and proper way to address a woman (well other then women ha ha). Would they rather you say "This is for the bitches or Ho's". Geez. Seriously though, I am not offended and cannot see a better way to phrase your question.

Answer 9

The word Ladies, should be a compliment...as there are so few left. however, the words, chick, girl, babe, etc...is annoying and insulting...maybe the women who were offended by the word ladies, doesn't know what it means to be one, therefore, wouldn't know how to act if they were treated or called one.

Answer 10

No, and that might have something to do with the fact I'm from the South. We are used to being called ladies.