[JoeAltmaier]

Like, in "going out with the boys" or "my boys have my back" or "boys will be boys"?

[dijit]

all those phrases are used by the immature referring to the immature.

those _are_ boys.

[oalders]

It's not uncommon in sports. That's the kind of thing I'd expect to hear in the locker room or on the ice when playing hockey. I don't feel like maturity plays into it there. It's almost a term of endearment.

[mrits]

I've literally never said any of those and would feel uncomfortable doing so.

[ianstallings]

But you are aware of these sayings correct? This was not the first time you've heard them, right?

[mrits]

Yes, I am aware. But then again I phrased my original statement to show that there was a small frequency of use of these terms. Where females (in my area) have a very high frequency of referring to each other as girls. Almost like "woman" is a formal term.

[ianstallings]

That's anecdotal at best. These are colloquialisms, they've been around well before you and I were born.

[amyjess]

Yes.

I'll gladly refer to myself as a girl, but I only ever use "woman" in formal contexts.