I don't feel I need modifiers, I'm a Jew pure and simple. It reminds me linguistically of the Spanish modification of -ita, a diminutive version of a word. I think it reduces our voices as women and the power of our identities. I wouldn't want to be referred to that way, and I think as a consultant and trainer, if it came down to me, "the Jewess" and another trainer who was a man, a Jew, the reduction of my credibility would be inherent. I suppose that is the very challenge of reclaiming words - until they are reclaimed, they require the bearer to put up with the negative connotation until the positive connotation takes hold. That's a big sacrifice for women competing in the world that I'm not prepared to make for a word that I don't really love.
I don't feel I need modifiers, I'm a Jew pure and simple. It reminds me linguistically of the Spanish modification of -ita, a diminutive version of a word. I think it reduces our voices as women and the power of our identities. I wouldn't want to be referred to that way, and I think as a consultant and trainer, if it came down to me, "the Jewess" and another trainer who was a man, a Jew, the reduction of my credibility would be inherent. I suppose that is the very challenge of reclaiming words - until they are reclaimed, they require the bearer to put up with the negative connotation until the positive connotation takes hold. That's a big sacrifice for women competing in the world that I'm not prepared to make for a word that I don't really love.