Woman vs. Girl

I personally have no probs with the use of the word "girl". When I hear it most it is used for endearment, a hello gesture as such. I do though understand that in some ways it can be defensive if some fella said in an angry tone "Now look here, girl..." or something. But I feel since the whole discrimination movement on the proper way to speak to a woman the old ways of using girl has died down a bit.