I work in a man's world now (auto part store) and do deliveries to local mechanics, who call me "darlin'" "sweetie" "Hon" and other similar terms along with "ma'am."
I do not take offense because they don't intend to demean me. I take it as a sign of approval, and pleasure that they got me instead of the portly guy with gray hair and garlic breath who sometimes delivers.
They're not flirting, they're not demeaning me, they're calling me a term of endearment that makes me feel good. It makes me feel like they still see me as a woman, a fragile thing, something to be appreciated even though I'm hauling a 40 pound rotor out of the back of the truck.
But some feminists would be horribly offended, would probably "put them in their place." I choose not to be offended because I know that no offense was intended. I take the remark as a compliment, not an insult.
Time to build a bigger bridge.