"even if some of it is in her face"

God bless it all, man- the woman is 60 years old! When will men realize that most women are not 'babes' all their lives? Same as some men are not studs or hunks.

When will western men - as the male of the species - recognize that the ability in a mature woman to think and understand and plan and communicate is more important than whether she has a pretty face or good legs?\

It is a put down, whether the man means it that way or not. It derives in my opinion from the deeply ingrained belief that men are in charge of the world and women, excuse me: ladies need only to smell nice and look pretty.

I agree with you, Sorcha- men, as a rule, think they are complimenting the female of the species when they call her a "lady". It may be sweet of them but why? She is a woman. Lady came along much later and I suspect it had to do with the commoner's desire to be 'upper class'.

Nothing wrong with woman.

Done, now.