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The word "Gal" and racism - 5/20/2008 10:46:48 PM

FangsNfeet

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Rather than saying girl or lady, has your accent or up bringing caused you to say gal?

I ask this because it has been brought to my attention that the word or slang of "gal" is a racist remark. According to what I was told, "Gal" in the USA, was the term used to describe black female slaves. This word is offensive as the infamous "N" word.

Is there anyone out there who would like to prove or debunk the orgin of the word gal as it is meant for the English language and American slang?

I'd like to hear your oppinion.

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RE: The word "Gal" and racism - 5/20/2008 10:56:47 PM

Hierarch

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quote:

...it has been brought to my attention that the word or slang of "gal" was a racist remark.

There. I think that's a touch more accurate. =P As for my opinion (on?), I guess it wouldn't bother me to still use it. Although I rarely if ever do.

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RE: The word "Gal" and racism - 5/20/2008 11:02:19 PM

GreedyTop

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From: Savannah, GA
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I've NEVER seen/heard it in a racial context.. SEXIST, yes, but never racial. I've been referred (many times) to as gal, and while I may often be mistaken as having some kind of Latin ancestry, I've NEVER been mistaken as being bi-racial.

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RE: The word "Gal" and racism - 5/20/2008 11:16:56 PM

ownedgirlie

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Never heard that before in my life. I say my gal pals all the time.

What about "My Gal Sal?"
They call her frivolous Sal
A peculiar sort of gal
With a hear that was mellow
an all around good fellow
was my old pal

Your troubles, sorrows and care
She was always willing to share
A wild sort of devil
but dead on the level
Was My Gal Sal

My Gal Sal was also a 1942 Rita Hayworth movie.

Then there is Just Me n My Gal...and Lovin Spoonful's "My Gal"

I've never heard the term used in a racist manner. I just looked it up in Urban Dictionary. Definition 7 said it was a term used by white men to call black women. The things I learn on CollarMe...

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RE: The word "Gal" and racism - 5/20/2008 11:20:05 PM

cyberdude611

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I've never used "gal"

But I have used "chick"

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RE: The word "Gal" and racism - 5/20/2008 11:20:10 PM

DiurnalVampire

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From: Nashville, TN
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I have never heard anything like that. I live in the south, where the gal behind the counter is something we hear commonly. It is used fr blakc, white, asian, puerto rican... and anything else you can think of. Out here, at least, it simply means the girl younger than i am ...

DV

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RE: The word "Gal" and racism - 5/20/2008 11:37:11 PM

Termyn8or

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Don't call me a dude then. I am a Man.

And don't call me Man more than once in a day.

My how things have changed over the years.

T

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RE: The word "Gal" and racism - 5/21/2008 12:09:37 AM

deliciousmorsel

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Racist?

Somewhat sexist, yes. But watch an old movie or two, talk to your grandmother, it's in way too common useage by a particular generation about their friends and wives to be racist.
Having grown up on the tail edge of the Old South, I myself still speak a little 19th century Southern now and then. And I could give you a list of corruptions of words- but they ARE racist and I don't say them. Gal is a Yankee word. Girl said with an accent. I suspect some one has confused racism with the coexisting blanket of sexism that covers the world.

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RE: The word "Gal" and racism - 5/21/2008 12:14:00 AM

SylvereApLeanan

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The only reference I found to "gal" as a racial slur was from urbandictionary.com. However, this is a wiki site and not the least bit reliable. Webster's has the origin of "gal" as a cockney form of "girl" originating in 1795. Unless the person who told you this can come up with a reliable source, I'd suggest you apply a liberal seasoning of salt to that statement.

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RE: The word "Gal" and racism - 5/21/2008 12:23:50 AM

phoenixinchains

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i've heard lots of people say "gal or gals" just like i've heard "guy and guys".
informal, but never meant as racest, sexest, or even disrespectful.

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RE: The word "Gal" and racism - 5/21/2008 1:06:17 AM

Emperor1956

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"Gal" is racist? I think that someone's been yanking your PC chain. There's not a hint of it being used to denote a woman of color in any usage guide I checked. It means, colloquially, "girl".

Start with The American Heritage Book of English Usage, which is PC to the max, and catches potential derogatory associations:

(under "guy", which is pretty odd in itself):

The American Heritage® Book of English Usage.

A Practical and Authoritative Guide to Contemporary English.  1996.

5. Gender: Sexist Language and Assumptions

§ 11. guy

Used in the singular, guy is an informal noun that refers to a man or boy. Its feminine equivalent is the equally informal, though probably less common, term gal. So, for example, if you are separating two groups of students for a session in line dancing, everyone will know what you mean when you say, “Guys to the left and gals to the right.” Similarly, every girl knows how to interpret a “Guys Only” sign outside her brother’s bedroom door.
    1

In the plural, guy is used to refer to a group of men, to a mixed group of men and women, or even (though less frequently) to a group of girls or women.
    2

The American Heritage® Book of English Usage. Copyright © 1996 by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Further, at least one use in British spoken English indicates (but not conclusively) that it denotes "girl" without any racial connotation:

I often think it’s comical
How Nature always does contrive
That every boy and every gal,
That’s born into the world alive,
Is either a little Liberal,
Or else a little Conservative!

Sir William Schwenck Gilbert (1836–1911), British parodist, librettist. Iolanthe. 1881.

Finally, while she certainly used words denoting race in her poetry, I am pretty sure Gwendolyn Brooks didn't mean to imply any racial epithet in "My little 'bout-town gal":My

My little ‘bout town gal has gone
'Bout town with powder and blue dye
On her pale lids and on her lips
Dye sits quite carminely.
I’m scarcely healthy-hearted or human.
What can I teach my cheated Woman?
My Tondeleyo, my black blonde
Will not be homing soon.
None shall secure her save the
Detective fingers the moon.

E.

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RE: The word "Gal" and racism - 5/21/2008 2:18:29 AM

Politesub53

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quote:

ORIGINAL: deliciousmorsel

Racist?

Somewhat sexist, yes.

It`s neither of these in the UK, purely a shorter version of girl, and quite common usage in parts of London. More so among the older generation.

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RE: The word "Gal" and racism - 5/21/2008 2:37:25 AM

Justme696

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From: Royal kingdom of the Netherlands
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slavery is propably racist related too..but we use it here also ;)

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RE: The word "Gal" and racism - 5/21/2008 3:39:12 AM

MladyHathor

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I always thought it was the word "girl" was the Southern term for the slave--and gal was the Western slang for girl or a younger lady. My $.02

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RE: The word "Gal" and racism - 5/21/2008 3:46:22 AM

Aileen1968

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From: I miss Shore, New Jersey
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This gal has never heard of it in any kind of racist term or even in any sort of derogatory term. I find it much less offensive then being called "girl" by strangers.

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RE: The word "Gal" and racism - 5/21/2008 3:46:34 AM

lronitulstahp

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it was used by racists to address black women during and after slavery....but it is not ONLY a racist word. Many people in the Western U.S. used it affectionately to describe women close to them, often as a romantic endearment. People who KNOW they're using it as a racist term KNOW it....it's not really harmful. i have been called "gal" by 90 year old dudes in Alabama in the bad way, and gal by my friends...and trust me, i knew the difference.

< Message edited by lronitulstahp -- 5/21/2008 3:47:09 AM >

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RE: The word "Gal" and racism - 5/21/2008 4:41:01 AM

EvilGenius44

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I've never heard of this word being deemed racist either. The official origin I found was "pronunciation of girl, 1795, execrated as a Cockney vulgarism". While I think it could be a condescending term for a woman, I don't think it's paticularly sexist or racist. I think we as a society spend way too much of our time looking for reasons to be offended, which is why political correctness has gotten so out of hand. I personally never used the term, but it's just because it doesn't fit my vocabulary style.

Just my 2 cents....

< Message edited by EvilGenius44 -- 5/21/2008 4:43:02 AM >

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RE: The word "Gal" and racism - 5/21/2008 4:43:17 AM

Alumbrado

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Another PC hoax like "You can't say 'Nigerian filter' or 'rule of thumb' or 'handicapped' ..."

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=gal&searchmode=none

< Message edited by Alumbrado -- 5/21/2008 4:44:23 AM >

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RE: The word "Gal" and racism - 5/21/2008 4:44:38 AM

kittinSol

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That's why it's interesting to hear of Tulip's experience.

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RE: The word "Gal" and racism - 5/21/2008 5:50:27 AM

sambamanslilgirl

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From: Chicago, IL
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quote:

ORIGINAL: FangsNfeet

According to what I was told, "Gal" in the USA, was the term used to describe black female slaves.

it was if you were a southern plantation owner. we weren't recognized as women.

quote:

This word is offensive as the infamous "N" word.

really? since when? i can think of other offensive and racists words besides the "n" one that are still use today to describe African-Americans.

< Message edited by sambamanslilgirl -- 5/21/2008 5:51:06 AM >

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