Lady is “sexist language”?

Columnist Leonard Pitts says he didn’t intend to offend when he used the “L-word” as a synonym for women, but his lady editor hit the roof. Pitts writes: For me, “ladies” connoted nothing more sinister than genteel women, the feminine counterpoint to “gentlemen.” Used in conjunction with that word, I suspect it wouldn’t have bothered Emily. But used on its own it had, for her, a whiff of paternalistic condescension, i.e., “You ladies ought not trouble your pretty little heads with politics.” I made the change. More here .

Question: Ladies, do you find the L-word offensive? I’ve never given it any thought, but I’m not offended if someone calls me honey or sweetheart either. It must be my folksy, small-town upbringing. I find it endearing.