Buddy?? Boy or Girl ??
By ebsharer
@ebsharer (5515)
United States
April 15, 2008 11:56am CST
Okay so I was at the mall last week. I was at a store talking with an associate and she was talking to my daughter who is 16 months. No big deal - BUT - she called my daughter "buddy"
My daughter was in pink and in a purple stroller, her hair was in pigtails and she has her ears pierced. Obviously she is a girl.
Isn't "buddy" a boys nickname?? Personally I have never called a girl buddy but maybe that’s just me. What do you think??? Did she think my daughter was a boy or is buddy a boy or girl nickname???
How would you respond? I really wanted to say this is my daughter Luann. Am I totally wrong on this???
Thanks in advance for your opinion!!!
5 responses
@princesslee (158)
• Australia
16 Apr 08
A 'buddy' is a friend, a mate, doesn't matter if male or female. Yes, it is generally used with males, but I really don't think it matters. I've been known to call a girl 'mate'. I'm sure the person was just being friendly, buddy was probably the first word that came to mind. Sometimes you do have to be careful what you call a child you do not know.
1 person likes this
@tinkerick (1257)
• United States
15 Apr 08
Your associate is probably glad you didn't say anything. Often we blunder and say the wrong thing, especially when it comes to babies. Umpteen times I've heard people call babies by the opposite gender nickname, even if they are dressed in the appropriate color. Everyone's instinct of what gender a baby is, is different. Some default to boy, others to girl. When we blurt out a nickname without thinking or observing first, it's common to misgenderize. Just take it in stride and laugh it off later. 
1 person likes this
@ebsharer (5515)
• United States
15 Apr 08
Okay I obvously should have said SALES REP. I don't work there I was shopping. My daughter was with me.
Anyway - I agree that babies are often mixed up for genders. But toddlers ?? I think once they are a year year and a half its pretty easy to tell. Either way I was just wondering if Buddy was a boy nick name or girl nickname.
@ravinskye (8237)
• United States
15 Apr 08
Buddy is typically a boy's nickname, but i have heard some use it for a girl too. it will be like that everywhere you go. i remember having my girls decked out all in pink and people would still call them he or him. I ususally didn't correct them if they said it. they didn't mean any harm by calling them boys, they were just wrong. i always figure if you can't be sure, avoid saying one way or the other lol. just like you don't ask a woman when she's due unless you're sure thats a baby in her belly lol
1 person likes this
@dvschic (1795)
• United States
15 Apr 08
my dad called me buddy until i was about 16... it was more of a lil comment.. i think no harm was meant and it really isn't that big of a deal you know she's a girl and thats all that matters, why does some offhand remark of a coworker offend you so much?
1 person likes this
@Swaana (1205)
• India
15 Apr 08
I was just under the impression that buddy is the name that is given for a friend in general. Because I have seen many girls refferring to another girl as she is my buddy. Infact one of my friend always start her conversation with me as hi buddy. So I felt that it need not be of a concern as of now.
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