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| The symbol for the planet Venus is the sign also used in biology for the female sex. It is a stylized representation of the [[goddess]] Venus's hand mirror or an abstract [[symbol]] for the goddess: a [[circle]] with a small equilateral cross underneath (Unicode: ♀). The Venus symbol also represented [[femininity]], and in ancient [[alchemy]] stood for copper. Alchemists constructed the symbol from a circle (representing [[spirit]]) above an equilateral cross (representing [[matter]]). | | The symbol for the planet Venus is the sign also used in biology for the female sex. It is a stylized representation of the [[goddess]] Venus's hand mirror or an abstract [[symbol]] for the goddess: a [[circle]] with a small equilateral cross underneath (Unicode: ♀). The Venus symbol also represented [[femininity]], and in ancient [[alchemy]] stood for copper. Alchemists constructed the symbol from a circle (representing [[spirit]]) above an equilateral cross (representing [[matter]]). |
| ==Terminology== | | ==Terminology== |
− | '''Womanhood''' is the period in a female's life after she has transitioned from girlhood, at least [[physical]]ly, having passed the age of [menarche]. Many [[culture]]s have [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rites_of_passage rites of passage] to symbolize a woman's coming of age, such as confirmation in some branches of [[Christianity]], bat mitzvah in [[Judaism]], or even just the custom of a special celebration for a certain birthday (generally between 12 and 21). | + | '''Womanhood''' is the period in a female's life after she has transitioned from girlhood, at least [[physical]]ly, having passed the age of [menarche]. Many [[culture]]s have [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rites_of_passage rites of passage] to symbolize a woman's coming of age, such as confirmation in some branches of [[Christianity]], bat mitzvah in [[Judaism]], or even just the custom of a special celebration for a certain birthday (generally between 12 and 21). |
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| The word woman can be used generally, to mean any female human, or specifically, to mean an adult female human as contrasted with girl. The word girl originally meant "young [[person]] of either [[sex]]" in [[English]]; it was only around the beginning of the 16th century that it came to mean specifically a female child. Nowadays girl sometimes is used colloquially to refer to a young or unmarried woman. During the early 1970s feminists challenged such use, and use of the word to refer to a fully grown woman may cause offence. In particular, previously common terms such as office girl are no longer used. | | The word woman can be used generally, to mean any female human, or specifically, to mean an adult female human as contrasted with girl. The word girl originally meant "young [[person]] of either [[sex]]" in [[English]]; it was only around the beginning of the 16th century that it came to mean specifically a female child. Nowadays girl sometimes is used colloquially to refer to a young or unmarried woman. During the early 1970s feminists challenged such use, and use of the word to refer to a fully grown woman may cause offence. In particular, previously common terms such as office girl are no longer used. |
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− | Conversely, in certain cultures which link [[family]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honor honor] with female [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginity virginity], the word girl is still used to refer to a never-married woman; in this sense it is used in a [[fashion]] roughly [[analogous]] to the obsolete English maid or maiden. Referring to an unmarried female as a woman may, in such a culture, imply that she is sexually experienced, which would be an insult to her family. | + | Conversely, in certain cultures which link [[family]] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honor honor] with female [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginity virginity], the word girl is still used to refer to a never-married woman; in this sense it is used in a [[fashion]] roughly [[analogous]] to the obsolete English maid or maiden. Referring to an unmarried female as a woman may, in such a culture, imply that she is sexually experienced, which would be an insult to her family. |
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| In some settings, the use of girl to refer to an adult female is a common [[practice]] (such as girls' night out), even among some elderly women. In this sense, ''girl'' may be considered to be the analogue to the British word ''bloke'' for a man, although it again fails to meet the parallel [[status]] as an adult. Gal aside, some feminists cite this lack of an informal yet respectful term for women as misogynistic; they regard non-parallel usages, such as men and girls, as sexist. | | In some settings, the use of girl to refer to an adult female is a common [[practice]] (such as girls' night out), even among some elderly women. In this sense, ''girl'' may be considered to be the analogue to the British word ''bloke'' for a man, although it again fails to meet the parallel [[status]] as an adult. Gal aside, some feminists cite this lack of an informal yet respectful term for women as misogynistic; they regard non-parallel usages, such as men and girls, as sexist. |
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| # Women in Scientific Careers: Unleashing the Potential, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, ISBN 92-64-02537-5, Publication Date: 20/11/2006. Retrieved December 2006. | | # Women in Scientific Careers: Unleashing the Potential, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, ISBN 92-64-02537-5, Publication Date: 20/11/2006. Retrieved December 2006. |
| ==External links== | | ==External links== |
− | * [http://www.wic.org/misc/history.htm Women's History in America] | + | * [https://www.wic.org/misc/history.htm Women's History in America] |
| ;Religion | | ;Religion |
− | * [http://www.helsinki.fi/science/xantippa/wee/wee26.html Women and Christianity: representations and practices] | + | * [https://www.helsinki.fi/science/xantippa/wee/wee26.html Women and Christianity: representations and practices] |
− | * [http://www.islamfortoday.com/women.htm Women in Islam] | + | * [https://www.islamfortoday.com/women.htm Women in Islam] |
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| [[Category: Sociology]] | | [[Category: Sociology]] |
| [[Category: Psychology]] | | [[Category: Psychology]] |