I prefer the term “broads” myself.
I sometimes use the implied versus actual meanings of these words to glorify the truth without technically lying:
“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known” [translation: “yeah, but that 17-year-old girl I just saw walk by is HOT!”]
“Sure I like Jessica Simpson! She’s cute as a girl!” [translation: “I’d like to take her home, give her some ice cream, and tell her a bedtime story.”]
But then again, I must confess I do refer to women, even a specific group of females which includes only women, as girls, but only when referring to romantic possibilities. Some women refer to their beaus as “boys”, too, while some of both genders refer to “men” or “ladies” as a conscious indicator of seeking maturity.
It seems weird to refer to women as girls in your average non-romantic context.
William Safire has an interesting series of “On Language” columns in the New York Times on this subject. In the 1970’s, he wrote about being criticized for referring to a “girl photographer,” stating that it was not as bad as calling a black man a “boy.” The response was that it was EXACTLY the same as doing that, implying that a grown up person was an immature child.
One woman pointed out that the use of the world “girl” as an adjective was wrong. A “girl” photographer is someone who photographs “girls.” The correct term is female.
Years later, Safire refered to Ms. (obvious female name) as a “woman executive.” Again, he was criticized for it: Is that the1990’s equivalent of a “career girl?” He admitted that the correct term would have been “female executive” and that, in his usage, the use of “female” is unnecessary.
Strangers & coworkers should refer to me as a woman. I’m going to be 30 this year, I’m not longer a girl.
Friends & intimates can call me a girl. I don’t particularly like gal, but only because it’s jarring to my ears.
I use the words “girl” “woman” “babe” etc according to the situation. My thirteen year old daughter I call “punkin” or "“poptart” or any of about twenty other cutesy nicknames and she loves it.
I have an all female staff at my office and I refer to them as “my bitches”. One of them started it, and they all wear it with some sort of weird pride.
I have a mid-life crisis rock band and we have, along with myself and my bassist who sing, a “girl singer.” She is close to 40 years old, but she refers to herself that way and it seems appropriate, e.g.:
“Yeah, I sing a few tunes, but you should hear our girl singer - man, she has pipes.”
I have never gotten feedback on it…
Because women are simply obects or things to be owned?
Points at username and screams IRONY!
Words like broad, chick, fox, shrew, hag, etc., are a method of dehumanizing women - making them less than a person. While I like the word “chick” myself it’s wise to be aware of the baggage words like that have.
I think that we’re over-thinking this.
Is it possible, just possible, that ‘girl’ is used because it only has one syllable and is easy to say?
A female younger than me is a “girl”.
Females my age or older who I know personally are women.
If they are particularly classy, or someone I respect, I give them one of my personal highest compliments, and they are called a lady.
Females I do not know of unidentifiable age are ladies. I have no reason to think they are not. Unless they are rooting for truffles in the trash bin. Then they are called “woman” again - not without hope, since I have no idea what the circumstances are which led them to this bin.
I don’t often use these terms when addressing the person directly, however. I don’t say “Girl, come here,” or “Woman, look at this.” I try to go by first names when possible, or with proper address and a last name, if that is preferred, like “Mrs. Anderson” or “Miss Jones”. Same goes for men.
As for myself, well. My husband calls me by many affectionate nicknames, and sometimes calls me girl, but I also call him boy. He usually calls me his lady. I’m working on making that a little more true, but it’s nice that he calls me that.
I consider myself a girl or a young lady and I am 23. ‘Woman’ just sounds so old.
I had a conversation with a friend about this once. He thought it was strange of me to refer to myself as a ‘girl’ even though I am independent and self-reliant. But I still look like a girl and I still wear girl’s/junior clothing most of the time. I figure once I have a career and have to start dressing up in women’s clothing that I will become a woman.
I refer to people of the male persuation that I am sexually interested in as boys and my male friends are guys unless they are old enough to be men.
The “gender opposite” of guys, I think, would be “gals”. We don’t want that, do we?
Here’s a list. Feel free to add;
Men = women.
Boys = girls.
Ladies = gentlemen.
Gals = guys.
Chicks = dudes, maybe.
An old, and very close, friend of mine who happens to be a lesbian radical say’s that “Girls don’t bleed (menstruate)”. I guess I could counter that boys don’t grow whiskers. Maybe friends like her have colored my attitude about such issues.
Women who think like kimera, above, make me kinda nervous, as do others who encourage that attitude… Why would one think being as a nine year-old be a positive thing? Is this a flaw in our society? I see the term “woman” in a very positive way. Same for “man”.
My (beautiful) sixteen year-old granddaughter is becoming a woman, and she’s quite proud of the fact. So am I. What a shame it would be to continue to think of her as a girl.
If I’m talking about a colleague, I’ll usually refer to them by name or as a lady. As in, “What’s that lady’s name? She introduced herself to me earlier, but unfortunately, we were both in a hurry and I didn’t quite catch it.” If it’s a family member or friend and the person is a generation older than me, I’ll usually refer to women as lady, but if the person is my generation or younger, I’ll use the term girl.
For some reason, I don’t like using the term woman to refer to someone. It’s just a personal preference, but it sounds almost…disrespectful, especially if I’m talking about someone who’s my age (which is 29) or older.
For what it’s worth, when I’m referring to a man who’s my age or older, I’ll usually use the word gentleman, and if I’m referring to someone younger than me or a close friend, I’ll use the term guy. I might use the word man if I’m referring to a male colleague and speaking with someone I don’t know very well, but I’m not a fan of the term man, either, for some reason.
I usually refer to a mixed group as “guys”. As in “What do you guys want for dinner”? I’ve often heard woman call a group of other women as “guys”.
Does this mean I can’t call a guy “bastard” anymore? You know, as in “Fred! You old bastard, how’ve you been?” or “You magnificent bastard, I’ve read your book!”
Oh, sure, get all rational on us, whydoncha? 
A bastard is still a human being, no?
Why? If kimera prefers to think of herself as a “girl”, what’s wrong with that? Why should “girl” necessarily connote “nine year-old”?
(If a lesbian radical says it, it must be true?)
Seems to me that kimera and many other 20-something women might prefer “girl” or “young woman” simply because the terms feel more youthful and light-hearted to them. What’s wrong with that? I see nothing derogatory in the sense that she’s using it.
(Now if only kimera would think of me as a “boy”… :::sigh::: 
)
I completely agree. Females under the age of around 13 or so I call children or “young/little girl.” Who I call girl depends on what they act like. If it is a 30 something female who is goofing off or fooling around then I will refer to her as ‘girl.’ On the other hand, a 16 year old female who runs her own small business is a woman, especially when I engage with her in a business context. Similarily, my one coworker who is 30+ is one of the ‘guys’ because of his lighthearted nature, while on the other hand, my 18 year old brother is a man when he is at his work.
Exactly, I think it’s sad that we can’t use these terms without others judging us. I wear torn jeans, baby doll tshirts, occasionally do my hair in pigtails and turn into a puddle around baaaaaaaby animals. Youth is fleeting, I won’t be young forever and it’s fun to enjoy it while I still can and before I start looking and feeling silly.
So is a “hag.”
Believe me, Kiddo, growing old isn’t all bad or even all that scary.
Aging is, contrary to pop culture, a physical process. You can do the best you can to maintain your health, but when you’re sixty - you’re sixty. Calling myself “boy”, or buying into cosmetics company’s propaganda ain’t gonna change that.
But yeah, if labels make folks feel better about themselves, I’m all for that.
It’s just that some seem kinda, I dunno, desperate.
When I hear “girl”, I think “little”. When I hear “woman”, I think “adult” But that’s me. I’ll go to my death to defend your right to think otherwise. You go, girl.