Why are women called chicks?

Why are women called chicks? Is there a negative connotation, I do assume there are sexist undertones there. Any idea about the etymology or origin of the term?

Is it derived, in anyway, from 'chic' meaning elegantly and stylishly fashionable?

Solution 1:

The etymology and origin of the term has been answered by Hugo so I will limit myself to answering the first two questions.

Why are women called chicks? Is there a negative connotation...

Chick is considered by many women a derogatory term. Why is that? Probably because its primary meaning is that of young bird especially of domestic fowl, more commonly a baby chicken, if you will.

But wait a minute, chicks are pretty fluffy yellow things, they symbolize spring, re-birth, and they are adorably cute too, so the term should be seen a compliment. It might be until we realize that the idiom, "bird brained" refers to a person regarded as silly or stupid. And chickens are famously recognized as being stupid animals. Therefore, chick can describe a pretty (and usually) very young female, but it also implies that the woman is vacuous and empty-headed.

Overall, chick, I would argue carries more negative connotations than positive ones.

Solution 2:

This is the OED's sense 3b:

A girl; a young woman. slang (orig. U.S.)

First recorded in 1927:

1927 S. Lewis Elmer Gantry vii. 114 He didn't want to marry this brainless little fluffy chick.

Sense 3a is:

Applied to human offspring; = chicken n.1 2; esp. in alliteration with child. Sometimes as a term of endearment (see quot. a1616).

First used around 1320:

c1320 Seuyn Sag. (W.) 2159 He is the fendes chike.

Solution 3:

In Spanish "chica" means young woman.

I do not think of chick as derogatory. It's got a toughness to it. Someone who's fierce, chic, cool. It's not something men call women but something women call each other affectionately.

"Hey, chick, ready to try a different club?"

Women call their friends chick just as they call them chica.

My friends and I all call each other: chick, chica, woman, mujer.

"Hey chica!" "Hey woman!"