I'd agree with you, I think calling women 'girls' as a man sounds strange / has some diminutive aspect in the same way a woman calling men boys, 'boys will be b

I'd agree with you, I think calling women 'girls' as a man sounds strange / has some diminutive aspect in the same way a woman calling men boys, 'boys will be boys' etc may have a dismissive, hierarchical nature to it with an added sexist overtone. Ladies would be more appropriate.