Why is the こおんな reading of 小女 considered "sensitive" when meaning a little maid?


I've stumbled on the こおんな ( 小女 ) word, which is labeled as archaic. However,
of the three meanings given (small woman, young woman, young maid), the third
one is additionally labeled as "sensitive".

I'm wondering why, as none of the websites I found mentioning it say _why_
(jisho.org, japandict.com, and a few others which I didn't remember)

I'm guessing it might have sexual connotations (like, maids having to service
their master), but I'd rather get the real explanation than a mere guess.




[精選版日本国語大辞典](https://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%B0%8F%E5%A5%B3-498562) has the
following:

> ③ 年少の雇い女。小婢(しょうひ)。

and 小婢 redirects to 下女, which means

> 身分の低い女。下賤の女。しもおんな。

So I suppose the _sensitive_ tag is due to the connotation of "lower-ranked".




[精選版日本国語大辞典](https://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%B0%8F%E5%A5%B3-498562) has the
following:

> ③ 年少の雇い女。小婢(しょうひ)。

and 小婢 redirects to 下女, which means

> 身分の低い女。下賤の女。しもおんな。

So I suppose the _sensitive_ tag is due to the connotation of "lower-ranked".

