[throwawayaway]

That's fair enough, though people retain the right to describe themselves in a particular way whilst simultaneously being entitled to forbid others to do the same.

Lady and Ladies is another set of words that could be used.

It's interesting that "Woman" is seen as stuffy and formal, whereas "man" is often used like "be a man" or "man up".

You usually have to put an adjective on "man" to give it a negative connotation, in my experience.

[amyjess]

Before my transition (I'm MtF), I never particularly liked "man" either. I called myself a guy and described my male friends as guys.

I still think of guys as "guys" and not "men".

[throwawayaway]

user mrits below also made associations with "woman" and formality. i have never heard any such associations or objections for man, and can't think of a situation where it has negative connotations.