Gender

As I was reading the "girl" article I could not help but to wonder about the irony that the debate creates. On the one hand certain people are demanding that society not use the term "girl" because it implies youth and possibly immaturity. Yet at the same time women are spending literally millions of dollars on surgery and various products to make themselves feel and look younger. I realize that immaturity and looking younger are not the same thing but this concept of youth is one thing that many companies use to appeal to women as they attempt to lure them into buying their product. I think the examples that were referred to in the article from the J. Crew clothing company are a good example of this. On the one hand it would seem that women want to be perceived as younger yet some are hung up on this term that they claim does just that.
As we look at this concept in a broader perspective what are the implications or lack there of when using the male equivalents? For men does it not matter if you use terms like "boys" or "guys" because men are less worried about saving their youth? It would seem that perhaps the women that are having the issue are the ones that feel they have a score to settle. For instance although gradually things are changing in the world of medicine it is still a predominately masculine profession. If you look at the surgeons the numbers are even more lopsided. It has been my experience that some of the female surgeons are so accustomed to having to defend their abilities in this male dominated world that they tend have a defensive attitude from the start. They tend to have a need to establish their authority and often times come across as "(insert your chosen expletives here)." Are the women who are having a problem with the term "girls" part of this same cycle? Have they fought so hard to be what they are that they feel like they have to defend their hard won identity no matter how irrational the argument? In my experience it seems that the younger generations are having less of a hard time with the terms then middle-aged women. I guess all we can do is hold on until those ladies get old enough that the term can once again be seen as a compliment.