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Igel

(37,620 posts)

17. It started as "my man Friday."

Reply to LeftInTX (Reply #12)

Fri May 3, 2024, 06:36 PM

May 2024

"Gal Friday" cropped up later. It's the grandkid.

Some said it was sexist--"man" versus "gal." The daughter term (yeah, it's two-way gendered) was "girl Friday." That was deemed sexist and "gal Friday" was better. By then standards, but things have gotten worse so we expect more of people.

(BTW, "man Friday" goes back way before the 1950s.)

On edit: Because some want to be believed "on trust" while disbelieving "on principle"--life's asymmetric like that--here's a link.

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Is "gal Friday" still a socially acceptable term for an assistant? [View all] Frasier Balzov May 2024 OP

Never heard anyone use the term ok_cpu May 2024 #1

I am an ocotgenarian white man who's never used the term. Ping Tung May 2024 #2

Wouldn't expect you or anyone here to have ok_cpu May 2024 #6

"Personal Assistant" is now the common vernacular poli-junkie May 2024 #3

Not since Rosalind Russell did that movie leftieNanner May 2024 #4

no obamanut2012 May 2024 #5

The only acceptable term for an assistant is THE PERSON WHO RUNS THE PLACE Beaverhausen May 2024 #7

As a one time snowybirdie May 2024 #8

If I'd every used that term with my administrative assistant, rsdsharp May 2024 #9

I say he should say it . Then we can count how many times his head bounces. Srkdqltr May 2024 #10

...No? nt Tommy Carcetti May 2024 #11

My paper used to have ads. This was in the 70's when I was job hunting. LeftInTX May 2024 #12

It started as "my man Friday." Igel May 2024 #17

1940 - His Girl Friday - Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell. She's his crazy assistant. LeftInTX May 2024 #19

I've asked Admin Assistants, "How's your kid?" Kennah May 2024 #13

In the book, Robinson Crusoe rescued Friday from cannibals who were DemocraticPatriot May 2024 #14

I prefer "secret weapon". I use that term for my right-hand people, the ones I rely on to do things right. N/T Jedi Guy May 2024 #15

1950 called and wants its jargon back. Iggo May 2024 #16

AFAIK, they call them office managers now meow2u3 May 2024 #18

I don't think so. David__77 May 2024 #20