featherwood

n. a female member of an organized white racist gang, or a white woman who has a relationship with a man who is a member of such a gang. Subjects: English, Crime & Prisons, Race, Slang

Editorial Note: The male equivalent is peckerwood.

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Citations: 1997 [SaTxLover] Usenet: alt.prisons (Jan. 9) “Re: Prison Slang: What is Featherwood??”: Featherwood is slang for a white racist girl. 1997 Jeanie Borba, Robert Rodriguez Fresno Bee (California) (Apr. 1) “White gangs create atmosphere of fear at Buchanan” p. A1: A small group of boys calling themselves the Peckerwoods and girls known as the Featherwoods are at least partly responsible for the trouble at Buchanan. 1997 Dennis McCarthy, Brent Hunsberger Portland Oregonian (Apr. 2) “Police Arrest Skinheads In Racial Brawl” p. D01: Maddox wore the word “Featherwood” tattooed on her wrist, a marking authorities say is associated with Skinhead activity, and sported a buzz hair cut with long, reddish-brown bangs hanging in front. 1998 William Finnegan Cold New World p. 293: Angela would tear herself away from the TV and finish opening the can, declaring herself “a skin bitch, a Featherwood.” 1998 Barbara Ann Owen In the Mix: Struggle and Survival in a Women’s Prison (Feb.) p. 156: “It’s no different than you guys [who] got the Crips and the Bloods, the ‘cuz’ and all that, and the Mexicans have the Southern and the Northern. So we have the peckerwoods and the featherwoods."…It is a touchy subject. Especially when you got two or three blacks in your room.…The others ones weren’t tripping on it—just her. Just her, because she is prejudiced. 2003 Tom Martin Behind Prison Walls (Mar.) p. 160: A distinct term, refering to white male offenders who emphasize a “hick” attitude. Although generally racist, it is not their focus, and they get along with other offenders better than the skinheads.…A female version is a featherwood. 2007 Elizabeth Fitch @ Monroe Shreveport Times (Louisiana) (Aug. 14) “Suspect had possible ties to supremacist prison gang”: Though Smith’s link to the Aryan Circle is unclear, white supremacist women are often referred to as “featherwoods.” Smith goes by the nickname “Little Feather.”

Posted 15 Aug 07 | Permalink | Tell a Friend

Reader comments:

Why does it always have to be gang activity when a group of people have something in common? And that being the case, why isn’t anyone going after republicans?

by FlyLilFeather 27 Oct 07, 1032 GMT