# The word Shiksa **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [October 18, 2022, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-shiksa/973444 "2022-10-18T16:18:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-shiksa/973444/61 "2022-10-18T19:21:04Z")
The n word is a far more offensive term than the one we are talking about. If you talk affectionately about Mrs. Cad, your Jewess, who doesn’t like some TV show, I probably wouldn’t have moderated it, either. Probably not even if you referred to your wife affectionately as your kike. Also, by the time I saw it, it was a week old. We are a lot less aggressive about moderating old posts, as it tends to draw attention to them. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-shiksa/973444/62 "2022-10-18T19:22:58Z")
I think Kike would draw at least a modnote. It is a far more loaded word than Shiksa. Also it is generally punching down. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-shiksa/973444/63 "2022-10-18T19:23:26Z")
> [@am77494](#): > > So lets see what we have so far : > > 1. @puzzlegal Shiksa is derogatory but I’m not going to enforce in this context because I find it funny wait, hang on. I didn’t say I found it funny. I don’t find it funny. I said it was used in an affectionate way, to refer to a partner. Please don’t put words in my mouth. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-shiksa/973444/64 "2022-10-18T19:25:45Z")
Honestly, I take offense at the thought that you are accusing me of laughing at this woman for being a non-Jew. That’s kinda gross. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-shiksa/973444/65 "2022-10-18T19:27:05Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > A gentle mod note asking the author to refrain from using derogatory terms on the Board, even if obviously used in a loving way, might have been a better way to go. I think this is the most nuanced answer, and approve. > [@Jasmine](#): > > Granted, but keep in mind that there are words that are acceptable to say for people within a culture but totally unacceptable to say for people outside of that culture. The “N”-Word is a classic example. If I had 100 dollars for every time a comedian or some other Black person has used that word, I’d be a millionaire, but it is totally forbidden for a white person to utter it. This is… largely true, but I think does dodge the issue a bit. Speaking personally as a largely secular Jew, from a reform family, it was a low-end dig, both as matter of religion, and as establishing and in vs out-group. Especially (!) for the older generation, and/or more conservative members of the religion. My grandmother (Conservative Jew) most definitely used it in a derogatory sense, and was, in all honesty, a bitter woman who was unkind to my father (Reform Jew) for having a gentile as his second wife (my step-mother). Despite the fact that she was kind to both myself and my brother, and made a point of helping out at our temple even if she didn’t share the faith. My father, one generation removed, would rarely use the term with my brother and I as we reached dating age, to the effect of ‘I don’t mind if you date or marry a shikseh as long as she’s smart!’. He is prone to such malapropisms, and it was wince-worthy if he used in a group of mixed Jews and Gentiles. IMHO he’s still in some way using it to define an outsider (which isn’t a good way to look at your daughter-in-law), but I’d argue his intent was good. But much like the discussion on the N word, best left out in any mixed group. For the record, he has never once said a poor word about her in terms of religion in our 26 years together (20 married), and his biggest complaint is that she’s too nice to people, not pushy enough to get what she needs or deserves. So, to wrap it up, I absolutely agree it’s a term that is best left to rot, has different ramifications when used in mono-cultural group (should still rot though), and has very different levels of severity between different generations and members of groups. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-shiksa/973444/66 "2022-10-18T19:28:35Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > The n word is a far more offensive term than the one we are talking about. If you talk affectionately about Mrs. Cad, your Jewess, who doesn’t like some TV show, I probably wouldn’t have moderated it, either. Probably not even if you referred to your wife affectionately as your kike. Holy crap! You do not come off well here. If any one used the word kike to describe someone and it wasn’t modded, we’d be having words. It’s every bit as bad as the n-word and probably should be k-word if it were anywhere near as common. And Jewess is always offensive it’s good analogy to shikseh. What if I described an African American SO as my n-word (uncensored)? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-shiksa/973444/67 "2022-10-18T19:31:06Z")
Keeping in mind my post … > [@What\_Exit](#): > > I think Kike would draw at least a modnote. It is a far more loaded word than Shiksa. Also it is generally punching down. Do you agree at least that the K-word is more offensive than Shiksa? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-shiksa/973444/68 "2022-10-18T19:32:34Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > What if I described an African American SO as my n-word (uncensored)? Or an archaic but appropriate(?) term negress? Is that more offensive than Jewess? ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-shiksa/973444/69 "2022-10-18T19:32:35Z")
My first (and probably only) experience with the word shikseh was on Seinfeld. Elaine had Jewish guys repeatedly falling for her, and Jerry said it was because she had “shiksa-ppeal.” Was this offensive? And if so, to whom? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-shiksa/973444/70 "2022-10-18T19:34:21Z")
I would say no, but as I also said, I think the word is more general use in the NYC area and less offensive in general. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-shiksa/973444/71 "2022-10-18T19:34:27Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > It is unambiguously NOT anti-Indian racism. There you go circling the wagons! How that phrase isn’t also a anti-Indian slur leaves one to ponder. 😜 ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-shiksa/973444/72 "2022-10-18T19:36:48Z")
I tend to prefer less moderation over more. I feel like both Jewess and shiksa have the potential to be nasty, but can be used in milder ways. Perhaps I’m just too old and too accepting of slurs. This is a good conversation. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-shiksa/973444/73 "2022-10-18T19:38:54Z")
You are an outstanding Moderator as evidenced by your willingness to listen. I appreciate this conversation as well. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-shiksa/973444/74 "2022-10-18T19:50:32Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > This is a good conversation. [![](https://thatmomentin.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Screen-Shot-2016-09-25-at-3.18.05-PM-613x420.png) ](https://thatmomentin.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Screen-Shot-2016-09-25-at-3.18.05-PM-613x420.png) ‘I am Katsumoto, and I approve this message.’ ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-shiksa/973444/75 "2022-10-18T19:54:16Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > If any one used the word kike to describe someone and it wasn’t modded Even _I_ would want that modded because I’ve _never_ heard that word used in a non-derogatory sense. > [@hajario](#): > > And Jewess is always offensive As a matter of opinion, I disagree with you on that. My mother was a Jewess, and that is how my father sometimes describes her. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-shiksa/973444/76 "2022-10-18T20:01:45Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > It’s not like non-Jewish women are reclaiming the word like was done with queer. I daresay it’s hard to reclaim a word that most non-Jewish women probably didn’t realize was all that offensive to begin with. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-shiksa/973444/77 "2022-10-18T20:02:05Z")
(Adding a response just to concur with @Aspenglow and @ParallelLines). ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-shiksa/973444/78 "2022-10-18T20:04:13Z")
> [@am77494](#): > > @puzzlegal points out that Shiksa is derogatory > > > [@](#): > > > > Shiksa is derogatory. Gentile isn’t, though. > > Then I ask her to moderate a post where this derogatory word is used against a woman of Indian origin Can I just say that I’m very confused by the timeline of events here? You saw a post from a week ago using the word shiksa. You were apparently not an anyway troubled by it since you then created a topic using that word. You were told (but not moderated) that it was derogatory. You then ask that the old post be moderated and claim the word is offensive and racist. So are you actually upset by the (again I repeat) week old post, or are you just upset that a mod told you it was derogatory, but didn’t mod the other post? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-shiksa/973444/79 "2022-10-18T20:11:24Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > There you go circling the wagons! > How that phrase isn’t also a anti-Indian slur leaves one to ponder. 😜 Isn’t _that_ statement a slur against two cultures/races at once? 😛 And used by the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2022, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-shiksa/973444/80 "2022-10-18T20:12:43Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > Yet, it is. Note that it’s not a reference to the unacceptability of pedophilia - if it were, the phrase would go something like “caught with a child under 18 or a body under his back yard.” Nope - in the original phrasing, it is clearly implied that if the girl is alive, it’s okay. But it’s not okay if the boy is alive - in other words, it’s the homosexuality that is unacceptable. It is a famous quotation made by one politician about himself: > During a successful election campaign for governor in 1983, he boasted, “The only way I can lose this election is if I’m caught in bed with either a dead girl or a live boy.” [https://www.reuters.com/world/us/eight-quotes-by-about-former-louisiana-gov-edwin-edwards-2021-07-12/](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/eight-quotes-by-about-former-louisiana-gov-edwin-edwards-2021-07-12/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-shiksa/973444.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-word-shiksa/973444.md?page=5)