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From: farmerl@handel.CS.ColoState.Edu (lisa ann farmer)
Newsgroups: soc.feminism
Subject: Re: On Womanhood......
Message-ID: <15135@ccncsu.ColoState.EDU>
Date: 26 May 91 01:43:59 GMT
References: <9105211741.AA02780@ariel.unm.edu>
Sender: news@ccncsu.ColoState.EDU
Reply-To: farmerl@handel.cs.colostate.edu (lisa ann farmer)
Organization: Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO  80523
Lines: 26
Approved: nadel@aerospace.aero.org
Status: R
Originator: nadel@aerospace.aero.org


In article <9105211741.AA02780@ariel.unm.edu> NRILEY@BOOTES.UNM.EDU (Natalie Riley Osorio) writes:
>
>  But now I have another question regarding the usage of "woman" and
>"girl." At what point (or what age) does one regard a female a woman,
>and not a girl? I've heard people say that puberty is the pivotal point.
>But, I find that a weak argument since females go through puberty at
>vastly different ages (I know one woman who first menstruated at age 9,
>and another at age 16....) Furthermore, that isn't all that constitutes
>maturity. So, what is the reference point?
>
If I question whether a person is a woman or girl, I will usually use woman.
Generally, if the person is in elementary or middle school I will use girl.
It depends on what context I am using the word also - if I am referring to a
single person, I make a judgement call depending upon what context I knew of
this person,etc.  If I am referring for example to females in high school, I 
most likely will say girls if referring to a group.  The safest term to use
when in doubt is female.  
I think it is safer to call someone who doesn't think they are a woman a woman
rather than call someone who believes they are woman a girl.  I still stutter
when I use "girl" because I can't decide as quick as I talk sometimes.Hope 
this helps.
Lisa

farmerl@handel.cs.colostate.edu

"If people want to make war they should make a colour war and paint each other's
cities up in the night in pinks and greens." Yoko Ono (_Louder than Words_)