"When Boomers say someone's being "hysterical," they usually just mean overly emotional or dramatic. But Gen Z has done their homework on this one. The word comes from the Greek "hystera," meaning uterus. For centuries, "hysteria" was a medical diagnosis applied exclusively to women, used to dismiss their legitimate concerns as feminine weakness. Doctors would literally prescribe marriage or pregnancy as cures."
"I'm forty-something. I grew up hearing that word thrown around casually. But here's the thing: she was right. And it got me thinking about all the words my generation and older ones use without a second thought that younger folks find genuinely offensive. This isn't about political correctness gone mad. It's about language evolving and certain words carrying baggage we never stopped to examine. After diving into this topic and talking to various Gen Z folks, I've compiled nine words that highlight this generational divide."
Language evolves and some common words carry historical burdens that younger generations perceive as offensive. 'Hysterical' originates from the Greek hystera (uterus) and historically labeled women with medical diagnoses, reinforcing sexist dismissals and cures like marriage or pregnancy. 'Exotic' often otherizes people by marking them as fundamentally different and prompts invasive questions about origins. Younger people connect word choices to historical sexism and othering. Recognizing these histories prompts reconsideration of casual language and greater sensitivity toward terms that marginalize groups.
Read at Silicon Canals
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