"GALS"

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Replies

  • Beastmaster50
    Beastmaster50 Posts: 505 Member
    That's just looking to find fault. I see nothing derogatory about calling women gals. Most likely it was a term used where the person grew up in a certain part of the country.
  • DaWayne360
    DaWayne360 Posts: 261 Member
    If "boy" can be considered racist then maybe "gal" can be too. But a more realistic complaint is that is is demeaning. Even so....Get over it biaaach! Get back to work!
  • devil_in_a_blue_dress
    devil_in_a_blue_dress Posts: 5,214 Member
    This is one of those times where having a firm grasp on syntax and grammar could have helped you not make your beloved... I mean, sister in law ... look like a dumba$$.

    That said, I urban dictionary says gal if a term white men used for female slaves. Though, I am from Klan country and have NEVER heard that.

    Anyway.

    If you SIL wrote "Gal" she might just want to be more formal with her memo writing, unless it's super casual where she works.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    If "boy" can be considered racist then maybe "gal" can be too. But a more realistic complaint is that is is demeaning. Even so....Get over it biaaach! Get back to work!
    I don't think Klan members ran around calling fully grown women "gals" just to put them in their place during the Jim Crow era. Just sayin'.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    That said, I urban dictionary says gal if a term white men used for female slaves.

    Hmmm. Well, I guess that's possible. I've never heard of it, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen. "Guys and gals" is a pretty common phrase, though, and "gal" was used mid-20th century to describe pretty much all young women.
  • Geyser_Mountain_Dreamer
    Geyser_Mountain_Dreamer Posts: 304 Member
    I sincerely apologize for offending anyone with this thread. I merely just wanted to bounce it off people to see what their thoughts were. Some workplace environments are very stressful. She's not losing sleep over it......she was just baffled by it. When I heard about it......I was quite baffled too. But hey...........once again......sorry for starting this thread to the people who are responding so negatively. Peace.
  • skullshank
    skullshank Posts: 4,323 Member
    it just means "girl".

    a "ragtime gal" means a girl on her period. (like the song)
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    I sincerely apologize for offending anyone with this thread. I merely just wanted to bounce it off people to see what their thoughts were. Some workplace environments are very stressful. She's not losing sleep over it......she was just baffled by it. When I heard about it......I was quite baffled too. But hey...........once again......sorry for starting this thread to the people who are responding so negatively. Peace.
    Mostly we were confused because your OP was worded poorly.
  • Derp_Diggler
    Derp_Diggler Posts: 1,456 Member
    Oh FFS. I'm just going to use the term "sammich maker" from now on.
  • devil_in_a_blue_dress
    devil_in_a_blue_dress Posts: 5,214 Member
    That said, I urban dictionary says gal if a term white men used for female slaves.

    Hmmm. Well, I guess that's possible. I've never heard of it, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen. "Guys and gals" is a pretty common phrase, though, and "gal" was used mid-20th century to describe pretty much all young women.

    Yeah, I have no idea if that is true of not -- I can't find it supported anywhere else on the intermawebz, but it really wouldn't surprise me if true. That's why I like to keep business communication as formal as possible. Never know when you will use a word that has and all but forgotten, ugly history.

    Still though, I just think the coworker should have been like "Hey, I don't like that work cause xyz". S/he'd have to be aware that the connotation has mostly been lost over the years....
  • devil_in_a_blue_dress
    devil_in_a_blue_dress Posts: 5,214 Member
    Oh FFS. I'm just going to use the term "sammich maker" from now on.

    What kind ya want? I am barefoot and in the kitchen.
  • beernpizza2
    beernpizza2 Posts: 553 Member
    I thought this was going to be a "Gals...Show me your bewbs!" thread...
  • samran93
    samran93 Posts: 12 Member
    ^^ The perfect statement
  • homerjspartan
    homerjspartan Posts: 1,893 Member
    Your sister in law sounds like a delightful person.


    Am I detecting some sarcasm? She actually is quite delightful. One of smartest and coolest women I've ever met.

    Then you probably shouldn't post threads that make her sound dumb and *****y. Because we don't know her.
    Wait ... is the SIL upset over the term or is she upset because they coworker is upset and she doesn't agree or is she upset because the coworker claims it's a racial slur, but your SIL didn't think that until the coworker said it?

    Oh now I see...

    The SIL is upset at the coworker who's upset at the word gals and now geyser is upset at us because his post made us think he was upset with his SIL.

    I have an upset stomach now.

    2s7cmzp.gif
  • lexcoulstring
    lexcoulstring Posts: 386 Member
    Blows me away how fast a simple thread can go in a downward spiral. Time to listen to some NIN
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    That said, I urban dictionary says gal if a term white men used for female slaves.

    Hmmm. Well, I guess that's possible. I've never heard of it, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen. "Guys and gals" is a pretty common phrase, though, and "gal" was used mid-20th century to describe pretty much all young women.

    Yeah, I have no idea if that is true of not -- I can't find it supported anywhere else on the intermawebz, but it really wouldn't surprise me if true. That's why I like to keep business communication as formal as possible. Never know when you will use a word that has and all but forgotten, ugly history.

    Still though, I just think the coworker should have been like "Hey, I don't like that work cause xyz". S/he'd have to be aware that the connotation has mostly been lost over the years....
    I kind of wonder if the coworker saw it on Urban Dictionary and that's her main source.

    Interesting that it wouldn't be anywhere else and we've never heard of it. I mean, the use of "boy" is well documented in history books and in a lot of movies from or about that era, but I've never heard "gal" used that way. I paid pretty close attention in history classes, too, and I read a lot.
  • TheRoadDog
    TheRoadDog Posts: 11,788 Member
    I call gals, Gals, all the time. Never had anyone get their panties in a twist over it.
  • RaeLB
    RaeLB Posts: 1,216 Member
    My understanding is that "gal" was a derogatory terms used towards black women during slavery times.
  • TheRoadDog
    TheRoadDog Posts: 11,788 Member
    My understanding is that "gal" was a derogatory terms used towards black women during slavery times.

    And a "*kitten*" used to mean a cigarette.
  • RaeLB
    RaeLB Posts: 1,216 Member
    Also, since it was a term used by white people towards black women, white people don't get to decide if it's offensive or not.
  • THECaptainObvious
    THECaptainObvious Posts: 399 Member
    hmmm.... I am pretty sure gals just means girls. I have no idea what else it means

    Yep it means girls... Has nothing to do with race
  • homerjspartan
    homerjspartan Posts: 1,893 Member
    My understanding is that "gal" was a derogatory terms used towards black women during slavery times.

    And a "*kitten*" used to mean a cigarette.

    Technically a *kitten* is a bundle of sticks, used for kindling.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    My understanding is that "gal" was a derogatory terms used towards black women during slavery times.

    And a "*kitten*" used to mean a cigarette.
    It still does in some parts of the world that are not the US. And is commonly used as such.
  • MiloBloom83
    MiloBloom83 Posts: 2,724 Member
    What group is it supposed to be racist towards? :huh:
    Buffalonians.

    I nominate this as "The Best Joke No One Else Got". I laughed.
  • homerjspartan
    homerjspartan Posts: 1,893 Member
    Also, since it was a term used by white people towards black women, white people don't get to decide if it's offensive or not.

    You are saying this like it is fact, can you provide some insight to your opinion? Where was this used?

    I have never heard gal used as a derogatory term toward black women, so I am curious what your reference for this is.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    What group is it supposed to be racist towards? :huh:
    Buffalonians.

    I nominate this as "The Best Joke No One Else Got". I laughed.
    I'm glad someone did. lol
  • Unknown
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  • RaeLB
    RaeLB Posts: 1,216 Member
    My understanding is that "gal" was a derogatory terms used towards black women during slavery times.

    And a "*kitten*" used to mean a cigarette.

    And now it's used in a derogatory way towards LGBT*Q people.
  • devil_in_a_blue_dress
    devil_in_a_blue_dress Posts: 5,214 Member
    My understanding is that "gal" was a derogatory terms used towards black women during slavery times.

    Did you grow up knowing that or have to look it up on urban dictionary? I grew up in a very white, very racist area and have never heard it used that way. And I have heard a lot, a lot of slurs throughout the years.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    My understanding is that "gal" was a derogatory terms used towards black women during slavery times.

    And a "*kitten*" used to mean a cigarette.

    And now it's used in a derogatory way towards LGBT*Q people in the United States.

    FIFY

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