Language is important. Anyone who says otherwise has never read for pleasure, had any exposure to politics or been near love.
So please. May we begin to get better at this?
You do not work with girls. Female is how one would describe an animal or plant. Dude and guy is primarily used to denote men. I don’t care if it may be used otherwise, in your group. Until anyone knows anyone you have to take language as the shared set of ideas of a people.
Woman/women. It’s really not that hard to remember, you’ve possibly even used the word before.
Come on in, the water’s lovely!