Any quick reactions please? The term "Jewess"

[JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff]

I am proofreading a document which contains this term. I feel quite surprised as I haven't seen it used in years, and it feels oddly old-fashioned and somehow rather patronising.

Is it a matter of taste or would you suggest updating? Presumably to "Jewish woman"?

Died out with Dickens, I'd have thought. Yes, update.

What’s the context?

Very archaic, and if being used in 2019 by a native English speaker, I would tend to assume it was used with anti-semitic intent.

Old fashioned for sure! Anti semitic, I'm not convinced

Well, no, obviously, you can't know whether the intent was anti-semitic without seeing the context it's possible the author isn't a native English speaker and thinks this is a formal way of saying 'a Jewish woman', or a very elderly person of the type who might assume that 'coloured' is a politer way of saying 'black' with no ill intent. But if you Google it, even, it's labelled 'derogatory' in all the top Google hits.

It is a term often used by anti-semites. I'd remove it.

why on earth are you asking MN? Don't you have access to the Writers' and Editors' Dictionary, which has the answer for you? You should.

I would perhaps consider it a tad dated, but not enough to be tempted to remove it. I would not in any way consider it anti-semitic.

I suppose it is similar to many female performers referring to themselves as an actor as opposed to being an actress? Neither are wrong specifically to me..... the same applies to your query IMHO

A very different context here:

jewessmag.com/2018/01/28/what-is-the-meaning-of-jewess/

So very much context specific.

It doesn't sound very complimentary.

Thanks. It is an informal piece of prose - an internal document - describing some community engagement we do. It refers to a public figure using this term. It is generally written from a lefty-liberal, inclusive, feminist type of standpoint but this really jarred. It is an older colleague though so maybe they don't quite realise.

Willow I am sense checking the gut reaction of the average person on the street. I use a variety of dictionaries, thanks, mostly the OED, but not the one you mention.

I'd personally think they were familiar with the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, although apparently Jewess is only used twice in the KJV in Acts. I guess though I'm looking at that through the lens of someone who uses the KJV!

Thanks again all. I also felt slightly odd googling the term on my work computer.... was not sure what kind of results might come up!

Well, I'd get it - I would be astonished if any proofreader I sent work to (and I've been one myself) didn't have this as a standard reference book.

FYI, under Jewess it says: avoid: dated and offensive.

I am not a professional proofreader, Willow. I am reading through a document for a colleague before it goes on our intranet.

If she is quoting someone, then you can't edit what was actually said.

Who are the target audience?

It's in a novel I've read recently. (Gatsby?) It feels very dated to me. If it says offensive in the dictionary I'd definitely suggest a change.

Definitely avoid unless a direct quotation from an old novel or similar.

It's not a word I'd use as it just doesn't sit right. However it is how my Jewish friend describes herself.

I've never heard the term in my life.

My DH is Jewish. I’m Catholic. Our DC went to catholic school, baptism, communion etc but are also aware of their Jewish heritage (DH family not very religious) and have gone to synagogue, Passover etc. My youngest took Seder plate and child’s book about Jewish faith and Passover into primary school when they were studying other religions (quite young age though) and she proudly announced herself as a Jewess. We didn’t view this as Anti-Semitic at all as it was my MIL who told her the term.

Some Jewish women but I'd be very surprised if it was many do use it to self-describe, but I would not more use it in the context you describe, OP, than I would use the n-word to describe a black community activist.

I would never use it to refer to someone else and I'm not Jewish. If a Jewish woman used it to refer to herself, her choice.

Sorry, that should have read 'I would NO more use it in the context you describe...'

A Jewish woman using it as a self-descriptor is one thing. I have lesbian friends who happily use the term 'dyke' of themselves, but that doesn't make it OK for me to throw the word around as a general word to describe lesbians, many of whom view it as a homophobic insult.

It sounds outdated so I’d suggest changing it. However the word itself sounds very regal and beautiful to me. It conjures up a bejewelled goddess. I know. I’m weird.