Single-ing out or calling attention to a particular section of people is like this with any category where historically or currently in that category that a typical gender, race, religion, nationality or what have you is not typically the norm whether it be due to past biases or for many other reasons. I see no problem with lady as grunt says. And as far as I can see whether it be lady, woman, female or other “acceptable “ term ,.... it calls attention to the existence of that term of drummer which is only a good thing . The music and particularly for a while now , the drum/percussion world both private and organization wise, has promoted and called attention to the female gender to foster the idea that it’s NOT a male only endeavor, hobby or occupation and has given every opportunity and championed the opposite sex in a what WAS mostly a male dominated field . This can be seen in endorsements , showcases , clinics and many other ways that are more and more FEATURING female drummers/percussionists. It’s a good thing and will lead to more and more women
( “ladies”) entering the field . One day you’ll probably just hear ,..... “she’s a great drummer” and it won’t be categorized by gender . But until then , and until there’s just as many or almost as many women as men in the field you’ll probably see them categorized to a degree or degrees , but that is how any minority group within a group becomes more normalized if you will , .... by calling attention to it and promoting it . Which is being done ! And as the husband and father of 4 females I see it happening in everything that was traditionally male . But I see the point , it should just be ..... so and so is a great drummer , or so and so is a great this or that and maybe not categorized as female , woman or lady , but it it will get to that point . You see this the opposite way ( albeit not often) with labels,..... ex : “male nurse” and some other female dominated professions/fields where men are not the norm.