Okay so this is against what everyone else has said re being a lady.
I don't see how it can be thought as in a derogatory way. To me being a lady is basically how my lovely Mum conducted herself. To her a lady was a woman who conducted herself with grace and elegance. Who used to never wear jeans but skirts and smart shoes. I think the term old lady sounds wonderful but old woman sounds derogatory in some way,
The word is probably old fashioned now but for me it sums up my lovely Mum and I will continue too use it.
I will also continue to use the word gentleman because that to me implies a man who is gentle, kind, thinks of others and yes does do old fashioned things like open the door for females, gives up his seat on trains for pregnant women.
I would love to be a lady but alas I do  not fulfil my lovely Mum's criteria...

Geographical works just fine for me ta. 

try not to feel singled out,check the troll tank...standard for certain posters

That's fine, if it's for your own understanding.
However, it defeats your attempt at explaining to others how it influences 'gender identity'. 
Geographical - by definition - and used on its own, doesn't explain this.
No pedantry offence intended, but terminologies are developed for specific reasons.

Though tbf the oap asked for an explanation in plain English.

If you're referring to my post - that's as 'plain English' as it gets pal. 




And, TBF I doubt the OP's quite ready for a pension just yet.

I find that if one uses trade terminology, the audience disappears in a flash leaving a small ammount of smoke and ash. Unless you are someone I know from the other place, then I'm not aware of being your pal.

What does amuse me is that various FMs have got their knickers in a twist over a whole bunch of conjecture, misinformation, and disinformation.

Agreed.
Nevertheless, trade terminology needn't be avoided, providing it's made simplified after use.

OK, forget the pal bit.

I've no wish to fall out with you ninja I've been following this fred whilst painting the front room, and because of that I see it develop in a non linear way as it were.

No worries, Garage Joe. 

Long thread is long. 

*comes in and opens the windows in this thread. The stench of stale booze is overpowering*

Is it worth reading?  I ducked out at page 5 or summat.  6-12 a winner? 

nah its crap

Oh well.

Theres a good bit with some gin .... it looks promising but doesn't really get anywhere.

lol.  Kids today - can't even go mental properly.   

well bugger me you learn something new every day. .

I never knew the word 'Lady' was deemed as an insult nowadays.. tbh I never examined the connotations as deeply as some seem to have in here. .to me it is an adjective [one of many] to describe a gender...  as is the word gentleman

neither of them imply to me any measure of subservience nor superiority..   and if I use any of those terms in any other way it is simply to describe someone who has good manners and knows when to act with a bit of decorum.. there doesn't seem to be an adjective, that I know of  [cos I am not a literary type person and only know little words] which covers that description for both sexes..  [if there is can someone enlighten me please ] so a polite man is a gentleman to me and a polite women [went to type lady there ] is ladylike..

I appear not to have learnt the language of the 2010's  it's all forrin to me. .I need a translator..

*sulks in corner feeling out of the 2010 loop *

*noun

nooooooooooooooooooo don't confuse me any more...

you know words bateman. .what is the word that covers both sexes to describe politeness etc. .the one where I call em being  ladylike and or being a gentleman..  with no other connotations behind it apart from the fact they have manners etc...

goes back to Maffs class... I knew I always hated English Class for a reason. .. .waaaaaaaaaay too confusing... .*sobs uncontrollably*

Genteel? 

I spelt it wrong first time around. 

errrrrrrrrm I thought that meant something else..

I really am a lot thick

oooooh  I just pronounced it differently in my head and know what you mean now.. but somehow it still doesn't feel right to replace in a sentence where I'd say xyz  behave like a lady/gentleman when in compnay or some such rubbish like that...

*hates on my English teacher who made me stand in the corridor for near enough every lesson cos I dared to question why my interpretation of a piece of text/poem/prose was any less valid than Oxbridges interpretation and as the author was dead and nobody had asked them what they meant how could they be so sure I was wrong..  *

you're not helping

but the new version makes much more sense.. now

lol...my spelling is pretty atrocious. 

at least BB will be over this time next week and I can go back to posting once a month  and not get so confuddled...

LOL....exactly.... you and me both Olly But the next time anyone has the temerity to call me one, I shall get suitably upset

hah a flaw!!!  you ARE human then

*hides   *

I wouldn't go that far. 

I won't cos at least it means they don't think I am a man. . even tho I have long hair..  


I don;t think I have aged very well..

or maybe I just can't be arsed to pretty [oops  blizzie will thump me for using that now ]  meself up when I don't bleeding go anywhere.. so tis not worth bothering

tho I did used to enjoy turning myself from tomboy to halfway presentable in the old days

I need to shurrup.. I am waffling again. .I blame my headache

 I wouldn't go that far.



  True.

Can I just make it clear that I have no objection to the word 'pretty', or even to the word 'lady'.

My objection is to women being expected to dress prettily, and being expected to behave in a 'ladylike' manner.

don't believe ya

*legs it very very very quickly *

I will be sulking in the corner with you cos that is what a lady and a gentleman is  to me too.

*** runs after Olly, but trips on stupid, flouncy skirts ***

And me Isadora

takes piccy for purposes of possible blackmail in the future