# Hey Ladies: A Question For Ya About the Term "Chick" **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 7, 2000, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-a-question-for-ya-about-the-term-chick/40117 "2000-11-07T15:01:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wildest\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2000, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-a-question-for-ya-about-the-term-chick/40117/1 "2000-11-07T15:01:57Z")
I got yelled(in caps) at a while back from a lady for referring to women as **chicks**. So I wondering if she was just anal, or do women really not like being called chicks? I personally do not mean anything derogative from the use of the term and I totally think women are awesome(God’s best creation yet). I just think “chick” or “chicks” sounds good. Anyway, I have always called girls that from Jr. High on not all the time mind ya but alot. And I might add I still call guys “dudes”. Well? ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2000, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-a-question-for-ya-about-the-term-chick/40117/2 "2000-11-07T15:36:43Z")
I prefer “saucy baggage,” myself. ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2000, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-a-question-for-ya-about-the-term-chick/40117/3 "2000-11-07T15:53:56Z")
Look at my name…and yes I am a “chick”. I think it depends on one’s upbringing. I come from a family that was involved (and still is) in the construction industry. You can’t be a wuss in my family and most of my friends have an edge… ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2000, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-a-question-for-ya-about-the-term-chick/40117/4 "2000-11-07T16:09:02Z")
Well, you have just learned that some women don’t like it; surely that will help with your quest for knowledge. Don’t you agree that it does sound somewhat disparaging? Suppose you were at work, and your boss were female, would you call her a chick? ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2000, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-a-question-for-ya-about-the-term-chick/40117/5 "2000-11-07T16:18:47Z")
Overall I don’t mind it, but I would think it odd if I heard it during, say, a job interview. I was always sorry that “skirt” went out of vogue, it had such a snappy ring to it. ---
**Author:** ![Wildest\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2000, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-a-question-for-ya-about-the-term-chick/40117/6 "2000-11-07T16:27:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Celyn \* > \*\*Well, you have just learned that some women don’t like it; surely that will help with your quest for knowledge. Don’t you agree that it does sound somewhat disparaging? Suppose you were at work, and your boss were female, would you call her a chick? \*\* Yes, matter of fact I would because she would be cool otherwise I wouldn’t have taken the job in the first place. There is nothing than someone in power without a sense of humor. ---
**Author:** ![Wildest\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2000, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-a-question-for-ya-about-the-term-chick/40117/7 "2000-11-07T16:29:25Z")
There is nothing **worse** than someone in power without a sense of humor. ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2000, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-a-question-for-ya-about-the-term-chick/40117/8 "2000-11-07T16:42:59Z")
Maybe some women like it and some don’t, and in order to be respectful, you should do your best to avoid being offensive to people when you can help it. WWJD, Bill? ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2000, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-a-question-for-ya-about-the-term-chick/40117/9 "2000-11-07T16:47:22Z")
I only do it “ironically.” ---
**Author:** ![Wildest\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2000, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-a-question-for-ya-about-the-term-chick/40117/10 "2000-11-07T16:54:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pldennison \* > \*\*Maybe some women like it and some don’t, and in order to be respectful, you should do your best to avoid being offensive to people when you can help it. WWJD, Bill? \*\* I agree with ya pldennison, that is why I am asking the question. Maybe one lady was just wacked and would have been offended by anything. See what I mean? ---
**Author:** ![Satan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2000, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-a-question-for-ya-about-the-term-chick/40117/11 "2000-11-07T16:57:41Z")
I only do it when I am asking gals to blow me and make me dinner afterwards. Though soemtimes, I’ll call them a “ho” or a “bitch.” The chicks really dig this. _(Note to the humor impaired: I was being ironic. If you don’t like it, blow me… :))_ * * * Yer pal, [Satan](http://www.members.tripod.com/jmspoofe/sdmb/satan.jpg) \*I HAVE BEEN SMOKE-FREE FOR: Six months, four weeks, one day, 15 hours, 1 minute and 45 seconds. 8505 cigarettes not smoked, saving $1,063.13. Extra life with Drain Bead: 4 weeks, 1 day, 12 hours, 45 minutes. **David B used me as a cite!** \* ---
**Author:** ![jesuslynch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e99b99/32.png) [@jesuslynch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jesuslynch)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2000, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-a-question-for-ya-about-the-term-chick/40117/12 "2000-11-07T17:07:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > \*\*I prefer “saucy baggage,” myself. \*\* Does anyone else picture **Eve** covered in Hersheys? ---
**Author:** ![Wildest\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2000, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-a-question-for-ya-about-the-term-chick/40117/13 "2000-11-07T17:12:12Z")
Satan, now I know why you picked that user name is because you are bad bad bad. ALso the term you are looking for in the situation you described is “broad” remember from the discussion Dudly Moore and the chic from “The Sound of Music” had about that? It reminded my of a thread out of the great debates. Those two could argue. Also, you should go see “Bedazzled” there was one part that just cracked me up. There was a sign saying “Hospital Zone Quiet Please” so she(Elizabeth Hurly) went by that zone honking the horn and peeling out in her what other than a Lamborgini Diablo. ---
**Author:** ![monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monster)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2000, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-a-question-for-ya-about-the-term-chick/40117/14 "2000-11-07T17:17:16Z")
I am not offended by the word “chick”. My best girlfriend uses it in an endearing manner, so I usually assume guys do too. If a guy is attempting to use it in an offensive manner, I just think he’s an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2000, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-a-question-for-ya-about-the-term-chick/40117/15 "2000-11-07T17:34:14Z")
I don’t like “chick” and I REALLY dislike “gal” - I deal with these and other expressions by considering the source. Life’s too short to get one’s panties in a wad over something so inane. ---
**Author:** ![porcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac91a4/32.png) [@porcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/porcupine)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2000, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-a-question-for-ya-about-the-term-chick/40117/16 "2000-11-07T18:04:11Z")
In a professional setting the term “chick” is inappropriate. In a social setting, it’s inappropriate unless you know the woman well enough to know she won’t be pissed off. I am not particularly offended by the term, but I don’t like it either. Context is everthing. Hell, I’ve been know to take “bitch” as a compliment. Similarly, I don’t refer to men as boys in a work setting, and only in a social setting if I know the man in question and I’m joking around with him. Actually, if I know him well enough and am joking around, I’m more likely to use the term “prick.” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2000, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-a-question-for-ya-about-the-term-chick/40117/17 "2000-11-07T18:22:55Z")
I don’t mind the term. Then again, _I_ call chicks “chicks”. 🙂 I do agree that it shouldn’t be used in a business setting though. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2000, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-a-question-for-ya-about-the-term-chick/40117/18 "2000-11-07T18:46:44Z")
Look, if some vag can’t take the word “chick” then she’s a lezzie, pure and simple. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2000, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-a-question-for-ya-about-the-term-chick/40117/19 "2000-11-07T18:50:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Wildest Bill \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Celyn \* > > Suppose you were at work, and your boss were female, would you call her a chick? \*\* > > \*\* > > Yes, matter of fact I would because she would be cool otherwise I wouldn’t have taken the job in the first place. There is nothing than someone in power without a sense of humor. \*\* Oh, I see, you get to judge what other people like to be called, AND you get to judge another person’s sense of humour. I wonder whether it was all right for employees in your business to call you what they liked, regardless of your opinion? I wonder also what terms you like to use for any other social groups. At the risk of repeating other posters’ replies, since you know that people may not like it, why should it mean so much to you to use it? Celyn the uncool. (Except that, in Scotland in November, I think I am pretty damn cool, actually.) ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2000, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-a-question-for-ya-about-the-term-chick/40117/20 "2000-11-07T18:58:18Z")
I like the term chick. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-a-question-for-ya-about-the-term-chick/40117.md?page=2)