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From: dyer@tau.DEC
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: \"Guys\" is to \"<?>\" as ...
Message-ID: <305@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 4-Sep-85 12:09:51 EDT
Article-I.D.: decwrl.305
Posted: Wed Sep  4 12:09:51 1985
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Re: "Guys" is to "<?>" as ...___________________________________________________

		Female Term	Male Term
		~~~~~~~~~~~	~~~~~~~~~~
		woman		man
		girl		boy
		<?>		guy

	The problem is that there *isn't* another word that would fit here.  One
uses either "girl" or "woman."
	It is, unfortunately, customary in our culture to use "girl."  The valid
objection to this is that it perpetuates that "guy-aged females" are lesser be-
ings than "guy-aged males."  What makes this particularly ridiculous is the fact
that women mature earlier than men do!
	I recommend "woman," myself.  It was awkward at first, since "girl" is
the customary term, but I got used to it quickly.  Now I cringe when I hear
somebody say "girl!"
	As usual, the best guide to use is the Golden Rule.  If you're a "guy-
aged male," you'd most likely prefer to be referred to as a "man," not as a
"boy."  When you take that into consideration, the choice between "girl" and
"woman" is an easy one.
		<_Jym_>
P.S.:  Don't be fooled into thinking that "gal" is a good match for "guy."
"Gal" is just another way of saying "girl," so it is just as unacceptable.

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:: Jym Dyer :: {allegra|decvax|ihnp4}!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-vaxuum!dyer ::
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