Because it would be just as demeaning to call your male friends “baby” or “sweetie
Because it would be just as demeaning to call your male friends “baby” or “sweetie” or “honey”. Those words are used only to assert male dominance over women - because calling someone, a stranger, with a belittling nickname against their will, you’re making the assumption that you have a right to get personal with them, that they’re yours in the same way a girlfriend would be. I’ve had exes that have used the weirdest nicknames with me (“wombat” was probably my favorite) and I don’t mind that, of course, but with strangers? Oh no. -- source link