# A question for the broads: Do you find 'broad' offensive? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 5, 2003, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-broads-do-you-find-broad-offensive/199722 "2003-09-05T13:50:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-broads-do-you-find-broad-offensive/199722/41 "2003-09-06T16:37:22Z")
It’s interesting that **Happy Lendervedder** mentioned Sinatra, because Frank sometimes used it to mean “hooker.” There was a gossip columnist who had flamed him in print, and he happened to see her at a party. He reportedly walked over, stuffed two dollar bills in her drink, called her “nothing but a two-dollar broad,” and left the party. I never use it that way myself. I picture a broad as somebody you’d call fiesty, tough, or crafty. I sometimes call female friends Doll, but it’s a little too personal for a stranger. I think of Dame as being short for “classy dame” or “brassy dame,” so I don’t use it for a woman who’s neither classy nor brassy. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-broads-do-you-find-broad-offensive/199722/42 "2003-09-06T17:48:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zoe \* > [BAre you the kid who threw rocks at me at Daytona? \*\* Mom? ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-broads-do-you-find-broad-offensive/199722/43 "2003-09-06T19:44:17Z")
I’m not usually the sort to get up in arms over terminology, but the term “broad” bothers me for some reason. Hubby used to use it quite a bit, when we first started dating. After I let him know it bothered me, he stopped using it in my presence, and AFAIK, now doesn’t use it at all. But I **will** say, even though I don’t care for the word, I wouldn’t ask a casual acquaintance not to use it. What I mean is, it doesn’t bother me as much as some other derogatory terms would, as I would **definitely** ask even a casual acquaintance to refrain from using, say, the “n” word around me. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-broads-do-you-find-broad-offensive/199722/44 "2003-09-06T20:41:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by norinew \* > \*\* as I would **definitely** ask even a casual acquaintance to refrain from using, say, the “n” word around me. \*\* norinew? ---
**Author:** ![Bugnorton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@Bugnorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bugnorton)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-broads-do-you-find-broad-offensive/199722/45 "2003-09-06T20:44:37Z")
Broad - Antiquated, yes/offesive, no Girl - Offensive right out no matter what (unless it’s my mom referring to me and my contemporaries) Chick - Offensive (unless it’s Mr. Bugnorton and we’re having a rather frisky time) Woman - Okay, generic Lady(ies) - Almost always preferred (except in context of “look lady…”) Ms. Bugnorton - Almost always perfect Bug - we know each other and are on the same playing field (socially or professionally) Hon, Sweetie, Darlin’, Cookie, Pumpkin, etc. - Totally unacceptable under any circumstances Rarely have I been able to categorize things so neatly… ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-broads-do-you-find-broad-offensive/199722/46 "2003-09-06T20:54:17Z")
**TeaElle** It’s probably because I stay up to insane hours of the night. I really need to start sleeping een vaguely normally[/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![finette6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@finette6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/finette6)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-broads-do-you-find-broad-offensive/199722/47 "2003-09-06T23:11:13Z")
20-year old female here I’m going to steal **Bugnorton** ’s list, 'cause I’m lazy… my answers will be bolded Broad - Antiquated, yes/offesive, no **I think it’s neat, and use it all the time, but never to someone’s face, but more as a general term "So this broad says to me…"** Girl - Offensive right out no matter what (unless it’s my mom referring to me and my contemporaries) **ok between equals (friends of the same age), or used towards a female under about 13 in any situation (but never “Hey, girl…” in a rude way), or used by an older acquaintance or family member** Chick - Offensive (unless it’s Mr. Bugnorton and we’re having a rather frisky time) **see “broad”, for both, never in a business or formal setting or with people I don’t know** Woman - Okay, generic **ditto, but the fact that it is two syllables makes it so awkward to work into conversation sometimes** Lady(ies) - Almost always preferred (except in context of “look lady…”)\*\* Appropriate, given respectful tone of voice and context, but it always feels out of place to me except when addressing a large group, or a pair of much older women (older than myself, of course)\*\* Ms. Bugnorton - Almost always perfect\*\* make mine Ms. Finette, but since I am so young, it feels odd outside of business/academic/otherwise formal settings. I suppose I feel uncomfortable being given the honorific by an older person/one of higher status, see “lady”\*\* Bug - we know each other and are on the same playing field (socially or professionally)\*\* ditto, except I guess I’m the 'Nette!\*\* Hon, Sweetie, Darlin’, Cookie, Pumpkin, etc. - Totally unacceptable under any circumstances **ditto, but with the exception of “toots” which is a mutual term of endearment between the SO and myself (also pulled from Sinatra, interestingly enough), and my mother, who calls me Sweety, and the SO’s mother, who calls everyone "dear"** Rarely have I been able to categorize things so neatly… **ditto once again, and thanks! I think it all comes down to context and the relationship between the speaker and listener, but that applies to most spoken terms, I suppose…** ---
**Author:** ![Paranoid\_Randroid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paranoid_randroid/32/18_2.png) [@Paranoid\_Randroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paranoid_Randroid)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2003, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-broads-do-you-find-broad-offensive/199722/48 "2003-09-07T00:31:22Z")
I’m surprised that “girl” is seen as so offensive, probably because my twenty-seven year old girlfriend seems to prefer it over “woman” or “lady”. (I think she’s afraid of growing up. Heh. Explains why she’s with a fellow over five years younger than she!) In fact, I’ve taken just to calling her “girl” sometimes as a term of affection, and I almost always refer to a woman under thirty as “girl”. That said, I’d never _call_ anybody I didn’t know that. I use the term “chick” a lot, too, but I don’t think I should ever call someone “chick” to her face. I do use the phrase “young lady” sometimes to refer to women under middle aged, but again, not to their faces - more like “thank you, but I’ve been helped already by the young lady over there”. Am I a terrible, evil sexist? (Peers made fun of me in high school because I would say “yes ma’am” or “yes sir” to those of my own age. Is “ma’am” off limits?) ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2003, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-broads-do-you-find-broad-offensive/199722/49 "2003-09-07T01:01:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cheese Monster \* > \*\*I’m surprised that “girl” is seen as so offensive, probably because my twenty-seven year old girlfriend seems to prefer it over “woman” or “lady”. (I think she’s afraid of growing up. Heh. Explains why she’s with a fellow over five years younger than she!) In fact, I’ve taken just to calling her “girl” sometimes as a term of affection, and I almost always refer to a woman under thirty as “girl”. > \*\* Well, I’m 26, and “girl(s)” _still_ feels more natural as a point of self-reference or reference to people in my age-group than “woman/women,” and I’ve yet to hear any objections; most of them still use girl/girls as well. \ Perhaps we’re immature 😛 ---
**Author:** ![AbbySthrnAccent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@AbbySthrnAccent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AbbySthrnAccent)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2003, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-broads-do-you-find-broad-offensive/199722/50 "2003-09-07T01:10:30Z")
Not fond of it, although I wouldn’t invest the energy to bother with being offended. I’d probably just ignore the speaker. ---
**Author:** ![look\_ninjas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@look\_ninjas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/look_ninjas)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2003, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-broads-do-you-find-broad-offensive/199722/51 "2003-09-07T01:23:18Z")
I’m 24, and I’d much rather be referred to as a _girl_ than a _lady_. How about _Ma’am_ vs. _Miss_? Really, I don’t like either of them, as one makes me feel about fify, and the other makes me feel about five. But what is the alternative? Oh, and as for the OP: I can see the Sinatra-ish appeal of _broad_, maybe. Certainly, I wouldn’t be horribly offended. And _chick_ is fine - I use it frequently myself. Of course, I also say _dude_. And I still occasionally refer to things as _rad_. So really, I just have a horribly dated vocabulary in general. ---
**Author:** ![Bugnorton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@Bugnorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bugnorton)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2003, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-broads-do-you-find-broad-offensive/199722/52 "2003-09-07T01:42:48Z")
**look!ninjas** maybe you’d feel differently about being referred to as a “girl” if you _were_ about fifty (yes it happens here in beautiful ole SC). I find myself using Ma’am and Sir as a personal expression of passive aggresion in these parts (as in when someone is in the power spot **and** is being a complete a-hole just because they can be). ---
**Author:** ![rsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsa)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2003, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-broads-do-you-find-broad-offensive/199722/53 "2003-09-07T12:43:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by look!ninjas \* > I’m 24, and I’d much rather be referred to as a _girl_ than a _lady_. How about _Ma’am_ vs. _Miss_? Really, I don’t like either of them, as one makes me feel about fify, and the other makes me feel about five. **But what is the alternative?** How are you Love? ---
**Author:** ![EchoKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@EchoKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EchoKitty)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2003, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-broads-do-you-find-broad-offensive/199722/54 "2003-09-07T13:20:17Z")
It depends on who’s saying it. Some guys that hate women will use it and I just want to sock them in the chops. But I refer to myself as an old broad all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Cyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@Cyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyn)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2003, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-broads-do-you-find-broad-offensive/199722/55 "2003-09-07T17:55:19Z")
Don’t call me a broad. You may call me food. ---
**Author:** ![Already\_in\_Use](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Already\_in\_Use](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Already_in_Use)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-broads-do-you-find-broad-offensive/199722/56 "2003-09-08T07:57:07Z")
“I don’t know how many times I’ve told those boys, ‘never call chicks broads.’” ---
**Author:** ![Isabelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5a626/32.png) [@Isabelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isabelle)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-broads-do-you-find-broad-offensive/199722/57 "2003-09-08T15:30:53Z")
When I hear the term “broad” it makes me think of an “older” woman. No I don’t find it offensive. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-for-the-broads-do-you-find-broad-offensive/199722.md?page=2)