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"?

ah, right - apologies, then. I would still suggest getting this book if proofreading is something that someone is going to be doing fairly regularly, as it answers all those tricky little queries that a dictionary wouldn't - it's invaluable!

In my grandfather's 1960s First Aid to English, there was a huge list of male and female titles: jew, jewess, sultan, sultana etc. I wouldn't say it was necessarily offensive but clearly not a name in current use for the most part.

I remember reading many years ago, sorry can’t recall reference but it was in relation to anti- semitism, that Jewess was to be avoided because it denigrated Jewess women. It was compared to lioness.
Also re equality issues one no longer speaks of actresses etc, all are actors. There is no term for a Jewish man so why for a woman?

Personally when I read it I was taken aback. It feels very Victorian, a bit 'manageress' with an added hint of othering. You could probably argue that it wasn't meant to be offensive, but why not just go with 'Jewish woman' and avoid potentially putting people's backs up or looking out of touch.

I am one, and it makes me bristle a bit. In the same archaic camp as the likes of "Chinawoman".

All the nope from me. 'Jewish woman' is far better.

The last time I heard it was about 1984 when my elderly Jewish neighbour asked me if I was a Jewess. It was a Jewish area and it was the only time I ever heard it in about 25 years.

Who are the target audience?

Labour Party members

It's dehumanising, that is my issue with it.

Avoid like the plague. My immediate association is anti-semetic, and I recall Nazi propaganda commonly used the word.

There is no term for a Jewish man

Umm, a Jew?

If it's something associated with the Labour Party then that's even more reason to avoid. There's already heightened sensitivity to anti-Semitism in Labour

It isn't the Labour party 🤣 I think BadLad was being a little tongue in cheek there.

I have asked them to change it so thanks all for confirming my gut feeling.

It isn't the Labour party 🤣 I think BadLad was being a...

That is as far as your post read in the "I'm on" list. It was with some trepidation that I opened it to see how it continued.

Absolutely do not use it

Zap it, old fashioned, out dated, potentially offensive.