The term “mensch” originates from Yiddish and typically refers to a person of integrity and honor, someone who acts with kindness, responsibility, and moral uprightness. While “mensch” is a gender-neutral term in its original usage, it is often associated with men because of its historical context and the way it’s used in culture.
However, there’s no reason why a woman cannot be considered a mensch. A woman can certainly embody the qualities that define a mensch—honor, integrity, kindness, and responsibility—and thus could absolutely be described as a mensch. The term is about character, not gender. In modern usage, many people use “mensch” to refer to anyone, regardless of gender, who demonstrates these admirable qualities. So yes, a woman can indeed be a mensch.
