Tom, I had this conversation with Sue Rosen this summer. Women who belong to the original Feminist generation (like Sue and, presumably, like Mary and Martha above) were involved in a cultural movement to abolish the word "Lady", along with its restrictive connotations, in favor of "Woman". The latter label, I understand, was one which lent more power and ownership to its wearers, and so was preferable. You could be however you were, "ladylike" or not, and still be a Woman. (others, please chime in if I've gotten anything wrong or missed anything!)
My generation has an opposite problem: due to the modern-day Gender Revolution, wherein we seek to abolish the gender dichotomy, terms like "Woman" and "Man" feel too restrictive and denotative. "Lady" and "Gent" feel almost more comfortable to some, since they are words that are slightly more flexible, in some ways.
One of the biggest problems for both groups, I think, is when the terms are used interchangeably.
This is one of my favorite things to think about when it comes to role terms in dance today! I *love* our community's intergenerationality, and learning about each other through conversations like this!
Eventually I hope to get around to writing in about the changes I've seen at BIDA since switching to Larks and Ravens at the beginning of the summer. It's been truly remarkable!
'Til then,
Angela