“Child” is probably never OK for people older than 12-13, but “girl”, “guy”, and occasionally “boy” are usually used by teens, and often by 20-somethings to describe themselves or each other. (“Boy” usually by females, used with a sexual connotation.)
I’m aware of it, and am actually still getting into the habit of referring to women about my age or younger as women rather than girls. I still trip over it when other people use the words that way, though—I automatically think of 8-year-olds if it’s not very clear who’s being referred to.
I automatically think of 8-year-olds if it’s not very clear who’s being referred to.
Right. “Girl” really has at least two distinct senses, one for children and one for peers/juniors of many ages. “Guy” isn’t used in the first sense, and the second sense of “boy” is more restricted. The first sense of “boy”/”girl” is the most salient one, and thus the default absent further context. I don’t think the first sense needs to poison the second one. But its use in the parent comment this discussion wasn’t all that innocent. (I’ve been attacked before, by a rather extreme feminist, for using it innocently.)
“Child” is probably never OK for people older than 12-13, but “girl”, “guy”, and occasionally “boy” are usually used by teens, and often by 20-somethings to describe themselves or each other. (“Boy” usually by females, used with a sexual connotation.)
I’m aware of it, and am actually still getting into the habit of referring to women about my age or younger as women rather than girls. I still trip over it when other people use the words that way, though—I automatically think of 8-year-olds if it’s not very clear who’s being referred to.
Right. “Girl” really has at least two distinct senses, one for children and one for peers/juniors of many ages. “Guy” isn’t used in the first sense, and the second sense of “boy” is more restricted. The first sense of “boy”/”girl” is the most salient one, and thus the default absent further context. I don’t think the first sense needs to poison the second one. But its use in the parent comment this discussion wasn’t all that innocent. (I’ve been attacked before, by a rather extreme feminist, for using it innocently.)