20 year old girl becomes police chief in drugwar-ridden mexican town

[watermelony2k]

... because no one (who wanted to live) else wanted to take the job

http://www.news.com.au/world/student-20-named-mexico-police-chief/story-e6frfkyi-1225941254960

RIP

 

[RobertVA]

Re: 20 year old girl becomes police chief in drugwar-ridden mexican to

Someone explain to me why a twenty year old should be referred to as a "girl". "Young woman" yes, "girl" no.

 

[RoJoHen]

Re: 20 year old girl becomes police chief in drugwar-ridden mexican to

You can be a girl and a woman at the same time. It's just a word.

 

[Trekker4747]

Re: 20 year old girl becomes police chief in drugwar-ridden mexican to

Someone explain to me why a twenty year old should be referred to as a "girl". "Young woman" yes, "girl" no.

Girl means female. Not necessairly just a young one.

 

[scotpens]

Re: 20 year old girl becomes police chief in drugwar-ridden mexican to

Someone explain to me why a twenty year old should be referred to as a "girl". "Young woman" yes, "girl" no.

Oh, puh-leeze. We are so past that 1970s pseudo-feminist nitpicking.

Anyway, sounds like a great idea for an action TV show. Of course, she has to be gorgeous, a crack shot, and a martial-arts expert.

 

[Tora Ziyal]

Re: 20 year old girl becomes police chief in drugwar-ridden mexican to

Someone explain to me why a twenty year old should be referred to as a "girl". "Young woman" yes, "girl" no.

Oh, puh-leeze. We are so past that 1970s pseudo-feminist nitpicking.

Since she's in a position of authority, she's a woman, no matter what her age. And it's up to females, not males, to say which terms are appropriate to describe females.

 

[sidious618]

Re: 20 year old girl becomes police chief in drugwar-ridden mexican to

I agree, woman is the better term in this case although I think the word girl was used to point out just how young she is.

 

[RoJoHen]

Re: 20 year old girl becomes police chief in drugwar-ridden mexican to

I never realized "girl" was a derogatory term.

 

[iguana_tonante]

Re: 20 year old girl becomes police chief in drugwar-ridden mexican to

Well, "boy" is.

 

[Tora Ziyal]

Re: 20 year old girl becomes police chief in drugwar-ridden mexican to

I never realized "girl" was a derogatory term.

Like a lot of things, it depends on the context.

 

[PsychoPere]

Re: 20 year old girl becomes police chief in drugwar-ridden mexican to

Whatever phrase one uses to describe this individual, I think we can all safely assume she's an extremely brave person. It sounds like she's going to need quite a bit of luck to survive in this position for any length of time.

And it's up to females, not males, to say which terms are appropriate to describe females.

For one anecdotal case, then, one of my female friends (23 years old) uses "girl" to describe herself just as often as any other female-identifying phrase.

Edited to add: I specify "one" of my friends simply because I'm referring to someone I speak to on a nearly daily basis, but that self-identification example applies equally to my other female friends as well.

 

[RoJoHen]

Re: 20 year old girl becomes police chief in drugwar-ridden mexican to

Most girls I know describe themselves as "girl." They never use "woman." It's not a respect thing. The word "woman" makes them feel old.

Much the same reason I do not describe myself as "man."

 

[iguana_tonante]

Re: 20 year old girl becomes police chief in drugwar-ridden mexican to

Just out of curiosity, how do you usually call yourself?

 

[RoJoHen]

Re: 20 year old girl becomes police chief in drugwar-ridden mexican to

Boy, guy, or dude.


I'll be a man the day people stop carding me for alcohol.

 

[Tora Ziyal]

Re: 20 year old girl becomes police chief in drugwar-ridden mexican to

For one anecdotal case, then, one of my female friends (23 years old) uses "girl" to describe herself just as often as any other female-identifying phrase.

Edited to add: I specify "one" of my friends simply because I'm referring to someone I speak to on a nearly daily basis, but that self-identification example applies equally to my other female friends as well.

Most girls I know describe themselves as "girl." They never use "woman." It's not a respect thing. The word "woman" makes them feel old.

Using girl amongst friends is one thing. I sometimes refer to my female friends as my girlfriends, too, and we're in our 50's and 60's. But I wouldn't dream of referring to a professional person or a colleague as a girl.

Many years ago, I had this male supervisor who was a very nice guy, but annoyed me by always greeting my coworker and me w/, "Hi, girls." So one day when he and another guy greeted us that way, I cheerfully responded, "Hi, boys." Oh. My. Goodness. If looks could kill...

 

[RoJoHen]

Re: 20 year old girl becomes police chief in drugwar-ridden mexican to

and we're in our 50's and 60's.

I think this might have a lot to do with it. Younger people are a lot less formal these days.

Many years ago, I had this male supervisor who was a very nice guy, but annoyed me by always greeting my coworker and me w/, "Hi, girls." So one day when he and another guy greeted us that way, I cheerfully responded, "Hi, boys." Oh. My. Goodness. If looks could kill...

The fact that this is even a memorable story for you proves it.

 

[Brent]

Re: 20 year old girl becomes police chief in drugwar-ridden mexican to

She's cute!

 

[Stone_Cold_Sisko]

Re: 20 year old girl becomes police chief in drugwar-ridden mexican to

The reason that she's referred to as "girl" in this story is that the slant of the story is: "Hey look, this young kid is police chief! Isn't that cute and funny? hahahahaha!" Rewrite the headline as "Woman becomes police chief in drugwar-ridden mexican town" - doesn't quite have the same "feel" to it, does it? In fact, your first reaction might be "err, what's so special about that? This is the 21st century its not so weird that a woman is police chief". Go further and rewrite the headline as "Drug-war ridden Mexican Town gets new police chief" and it becomes even less "noteworthy".

In the real world, people refer to themselves and others informally as girl all the time.

In a professional capacity, unless I was really friendly and informal with somebody, I wouldn't refer to a co-worker as a "girl". I certainly wouldn't refer to my boss (who is female) as "a girl". I think that would be sort of disrespectful, actually.

I think that covers every aspect of this little side conversation.

 

[RoJoHen]

Re: 20 year old girl becomes police chief in drugwar-ridden mexican to

However in a professional capacity, unless I was really friendly and informal with somebody, I wouldn't refer to a co-worker as a "girl". I certainly wouldn't refer to my boss (who is female) as "girl".

I've had several female bosses, and I'd have no problem calling them "girl." I probably did several times. It just has to do with a person's expectations of formality. Some people are very traditional.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Re: 20 year old girl becomes police chief in drugwar-ridden mexican to

Someone explain to me why a twenty year old should be referred to as a "girl". "Young woman" yes, "girl" no.

Oh, puh-leeze. We are so past that 1970s pseudo-feminist nitpicking.

Since she's in a position of authority, she's a woman, no matter what her age. And it's up to females, not males, to say which terms are appropriate to describe females.

To my mind, I think that both sexes should be able to expect respect. Calling a man a boy is degrading. Calling a woman a girl is, too.

Many years ago, I had this male supervisor who was a very nice guy, but annoyed me by always greeting my coworker and me w/, "Hi, girls." So one day when he and another guy greeted us that way, I cheerfully responded, "Hi, boys." Oh. My. Goodness. If looks could kill...

The fact that this is even a memorable story for you proves it.

Which proves that no one likes disrespect, regardless of gender.