to say "uppity" doesn't mean upset or wound up

[CoalTit]

I've never heard anyone say "uppity" in real life; only ficticious racists from the southern USA in books and films, and it's always followed by that racist word I won't write for fear of getting banned. From that I inferred that it means "getting above yourself", and has a pretty nasty meaning.
In the last year or so I've seen it used a lot on mumsnet, where people seem to use it to mean upset or agitated. I've just looked it up in a dictionary and yes, it means putting on airs, being pretentious or acting superior.
What do you understand by "uppity"?

It means a bit full of yourself, thinking you are better than other people, possibly a bit cheeky

Arsey - it just means arsey.

I've never known it to be racist, my Mum used it a lot "don't get uppity with me young lady"

That's exactly how I know it used .

This - I've heard it used (and occasionally described someone thus, such as a shop customer or perhaps a relative behaving in an "uppity" way) all my life (and I am in my sixties). It is not a racist word in itself.

I think it is one of those words that has different connotations in different countries.
So in UK, it means snobbish, above yourself, but isn't racist.
In USA it means the same, but seems to have more racist overtones as was used to keep black people 'in their place'.

uppity = chip on shoulder

In whatever context it is used, the word uppity is a put down. It was most certainly coupled with the n word in usa to oppress blacks

"Uppity" is another term that is almost exclusively only used against women in a pejorative way. Same as "shrill" or "bossy".

Its a way to minimise whatever the victim is saying or doing, to put her in her place. Usually when she is asserting her rights and a man doesn't like it.

I however, am proud to be a PITA uppity feminist woman.
Every time I see this wonderful picture of Magdalen with her chin set and that determined look, I am reminded why I am uppity and proud.

It’s definitely been used extensively against black men as well.

I thought it meant stuck up

But this is mumsnet I once posted about my disabled dd being terribly bullied by a teacher who had shouted at her she was faking it as she saw her smile.... I called the teacher a moron and got piled on caking me all sorts (I just thought it meant a total idiot, which the teacher was). No sympathy for the actual issue just anger at my use of the word

"Uppity" is another term that is almost exclusively only used against women in a pejorative way.

I don't think it's one of those words at all.

My mum used uppity a lot - but she used it to mean stroppy

I would think it meant stroppy. It was only recently, I when someone on TV got pulled up on it, that I realised it had racist undertones.

My first thought would be from the Mr Men books.

I immediately thought of a top hat and monocle and couldn’t work out why until someone posted Mr Uppity.

Agree with the majority that I’ve only ever known it be used meaning snobby.

Uppity means snobbish and convinced you are better than others.
There is a similarity between Mr Uppity and JRM I think.

I was not aware of any racist links in the UK.

Round here it's used about women and means getting above yourself. On a meeting this morning a bloke said a female client was 'getting uppity again'. Seems it has different meanings and uses around the place which is not that surprising really.

It means the woman should stfu and get back in her box, basically.

This is the first time that I’ve heard the word uppity having racial connotations. If I heard someone was getting uppity, I think they would be acting superior, know-it-all, and cocky.

In the US, it is usually seen as a very racist thing to say, to the extent that most people never use it anymore (I'm American).

It does not just mean 'snobby', the connotation is that an 'inferior' person (i.e., non-white) should know their place and not try to act like an equal to their 'superiors'.

I wouldn't say this means British people shouldn't use the word, but I guess it wouldn't hurt to know it has a different meaning elsewhere.

Legitimately at that Mr Uppity book!

Ideas above their station, airs and graces or all fur coat and no knickers.

Uppity was always used as snobby in my schools etc growing up (that red guy Mr Uppity in the Mr men books). I only heard recently that in America it means something entirely different, but having been born in a completely.different country I'm not surprised I've never heard the American meaning. However now people have made it clear that it is offense to some, I won't be using it again.

Round here it's used about women and means getting above yourself. On a meeting this morning a bloke said a female client was 'getting uppity again

That's the context I usually heard it in, last time was the same as you, in the office I worked in a number of years ago my boss used it about a woman getting arsey about discounts.

Not snobbish, no, and not upset, either. Uppity is a word with unavoidable pejorative baggage. It is always used of an inferior by a superior to suggest that someone is acting as though they had more value, more power, more right to voice an opinion, than the user of the word is prepared to grant them. Uppity says, 'Who do you think you are?' It says, 'Know your place,' it says, 'Don't speak to me as though you were my equal.'

It doesn't say, 'Don't imagine you're better than me.'

In an age of equality, it's a word we don't need and should forget. It was used by white people of black people who aspires to education, voter rights, home ownership, job security and a fair share of the pavement. It was used by men of women who expected to be listened to, enjoy bodily autonomy and financial independence. It's use was often swiftly followed by acts of violence to control and suppress the 'inferior' who had breached unwritten rules and stepped out of line.

Words change their meanings as people apply them in new contexts, but I'd be sorry to see this one recycled.

My mum used it when I was stroppy too.

Never heard it in any other context in apart from mum using it in the 80's when i was definitely stroppy.

'It is always used of an inferior by a superior to suggest that someone is acting as though they had more value, more power, more right to voice an opinion, than the user of the word is prepared to grant them. Uppity says, 'Who do you think you are?' It says, 'Know your place,' it says, 'Don't speak to me as though you were my equal.''

In my part of the UK this is all true but its used by men about women.

The woman isn't actually inferior obviously.

The man thinks she is speaking out of turn, too much. Challeging him when it is not her right (as he's a bloke) etc

It is v v sexist.