The word brings up different responses to many. Some find it empowering, while others find it degrading. In cases that come to mind for me, the expression, "Woman!" addressed that she was either in trouble or being annoying. I don't mind it, but I heard Jason tell the kids it was derogatory. Here are 2 sitations in our family where being a woman was just cute.
Jason was holding Ian in his arms, looking into his eyes and talking with him. I was sitting next to them.
Ian: "I love you, Daddy!"
Jason: "I love you, too, Buddy! Can you tell Mommy we love her,too?"
Pauses. Still looking at Ian, but talking to me: "And that you're the most beautiful woman in the world."
Ian: (puzzled) "Dad...Why did you call me a woman?"
The next day, I overheard Ian and Faith playing "pretend". I missed most of the conversation, but what I did hear was Ian saying, "I want to be Barbie!"
After I heard that, I thought I better ask why he was excited to choose to be Barbie. (In his defense, his choices were to be Barbie or the mean girl. They were watching a movie about it earlier.) Before you judge the movie, it has a good lesson on values and forgiveness...plus it's giving Ian something to play that relates to his sisters without him fighting with them.
keep in mind that that's what Jesus called his mother from time to time so I'd assume it's not always derogatory :)
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