The writer puts the word "girls" in quotation marks in the first sentence of paragraph $3$ to emphasize that

a$.$ the treatment of her young coworkers is unjust

b$.$ her attitude toward her coworkers is one of disdain

c$.$ she and her coworkers share a sense of camaraderie

d$.$ not all of the people she is describing are actually young

e$.$ several of her coworkers are not female but male