A woman is a female human, in contrast to an adult male, who is a man.

The term woman (irregular plural: women) is usually used for an adult, with the term girl being the usual term for a female child or adolescent. However, the term is also sometimes used for a female human regardless of age, as in phrases like "women's rights".

Etymology

---

The English term "man" (from Proto-Germanic mannaz "man, person") and words derived therefrom can designate any or even all of the human race regardless of their gender or age. This is indeed the oldest usage of "man". In Old English the words wer and wyf (also wæpman and wifman) were what was used to refer to "a man" and "a woman" respectively, and "man" was gender neutral. In Middle English man displaced wer as term for "male human", whilst wyfman (which eventually evolved into woman) was retained for "female human". "Man" does continue to carry its original sense of "Human" however, resulting in an asymmetry sometimes criticized as sexist. ^* (See also Womyn.) The symbol for the planet Venus is the sign also known in biology for the female sex: a stylized representation of the goddess Venus's hand mirror: a circle with a small 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 a cross (representing matter).

Terminology

---

The English language's original word for "woman" was Old English wīf, akin to German Weib; it later became the modern word "wife." The modern word "woman" etymologically derives from wīfmann, with the addition of mann, "person", from Germanic mannaz. This formation is peculiar to English. The equivalents for "man" in Old English were wer (a cognate of Latin vir, "man") and wǣpnedmann, literally "weaponed person". As previously mentioned, the term man continues to carry its original sense of "Human", though this usage results in an asymmetry which is sometimes criticized as sexist. The word girl originally meant "young person of either sex"; it was only around the beginning of the 16th century that it came to mean specifically a female child. Nowadays girl is also often used colloquially to refer to a young or unmarried woman. Since the early 1970s, feminists have challenged such usage, and today, using the word in the workplace (as in office girl) is typically considered inappropriate in the United States and United Kingdom because it implies a view of women as infantile. The use remains commonplace in several other English-speaking countries. Conversely, in certain non-Western cultures which link family honor with female 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 woman can, in such a culture, imply that she is sexually experienced, which would be an insult to her family. In more informal settings, the use of girl to refer to an adult female is also common practice in certain usage (such as girls' night out), even among elderly women. In this sense, girl may be considered to be the analogue to the British word bloke for a man. Some regard non-parallel usages, such as men and girls, as sexist. A number of other derogatory terms for women are also in common usage. There are various words used to refer to the quality of being a woman. The term "womanhood" merely means the state of being a woman; "femininity" is used to refer to a set of supposedly typical female qualities associated with a certain attitude to gender roles; "womanliness" is like "femininity", but is usually associated with a different view of gender roles; "femaleness" is a general term, but is often used as shorthand for "human femaleness"; "distaff" is an archaic adjective derived from women's conventional role as a spinner, now used only as a deliberate archaism; "muliebrity" is a "neologism" (derived from the Latin) meant to provide a female counterpart of "virility", but used very loosely, sometimes to mean merely "womanhood", sometimes "femininity", and sometimes even as a collective term for women.

More on [ Woman ]

People.com Latest News

Online Lottery Set for Jackson Memorial Tickets
Mike Fleeman and Elaine Aradillas Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:40:00 -0400
Organizers will randomly distribute 17,500 free passes; the ceremony also will be broadcast and streamed live
Sarah Palin Resigns as Alaska Governor
Lorenzo Benet Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:35:00 -0400
"It hurts to make this choice," says the former vice presidential candidate, who had 18 months left in her first term
Matt Damon Wants Hugh Jackman to Repeat as Sexiest Man Alive
Mark Gray Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:00:00 -0400
"Maybe he can be the first to do it back-to-back," says Damon, who gave up the PEOPLE title to the X-Men star
Tobey Maguire Reveals Baby Son's Name
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:35:00 -0400
Otis Tobias Maguire, the second child for the actor and his wife, gets his middle name from dad
Michael Jackson's Doctor to Skip Memorial
Anne Lang and Mike Fleeman Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:35:00 -0400
"He will be mourning in private," says the rep for Dr. Conrad Murray, who was with the entertainer when he was stricken
Kevin Jonas Proposes with 211 Diamonds!
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:10:00 -0400
Take a look at Danielle Deleasa's three-carat, cushion-cut diamond engagement ring with a band with 210 more diamonds

NPR Topics: People & Places

An Afghan View Of The Surge
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:08:00 -0400
Rangina Hamidi, CEO of Kandahar Treasures, which sells handmade embroidery, talks about the surge in Helmand province. She says that to defeat the Taliban, American troops must help Afghanistan build infrastructure and maintain security.
Remembering Last Reunion Of Civil War Veterans
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:58:00 -0400
Commentator John McDonough recalls the last great reunion of Civil War veterans from the North and South. It took place July 3-5, 1938, on the 75th anniversary of Gettysburg — at Gettysburg, Pa. At the time, the whole country was almost painfully aware that the last living links to a decisive event were about to slip away.
Gov. Ted Strickland On Ohio's Budget Impasse
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:45:00 -0400
Ohio is facing a $3.2 billion shortfall in its finances. Gov. Ted Strickland has proposed slots at racetracks and spending cuts, but has not been able to reach a deal with the Legislature. The state is operating on a temporary budget for the next few days.
Families Of 'America's Battalion' Wait For News
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:40:00 -0400
Marines with the 2nd Battalion, 8th Regiment, known as "America's Battalion," are part of the force that has launched a major assault in southern Afghanistan. On the night they went into battle, families at home heard the news — and began reaching out for information about loved ones.
Rare Copy Of Declaration Found In England
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:00:00 -0400
An original copy of the Declaration of Independence was recently discovered in the British National Archives. Edward Hampshire, the diplomatic and colonial specialist at the archives, talks with Melissa Block about the discovery of the 26th copy of the document.
70-Year-Old Reservist, Surgeon Returns To Iraq
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:54:00 -0400
Col. Hector Henry is one of only three doctors over the age of 70 who have agreed to come out of retirement and serve active duty since Sept. 11, 2001, according to the U.S. Army Reserves Medical Command. The urologist, City Council member and grandfather of three says he promised his wife it would be his last tour.
Robert Ballard: 50 Years Exploring Deep Waters
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:00:00 -0400
Deep-sea voyager Robert Ballard has discovered everything from 10-foot-tall tube worms to the Titanic on his ocean expeditions around the world. Ballard discusses his underwater finds and how new robotic technology allows scientists to explore the sea from ashore.
In Defense Of The Flag (Sewn For History Class)
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:53:00 -0400
Bob Heft, who sewed the 50-state flag as a high schooler, received a B- for his project. Heft's history teacher accused him of not knowing how many states were in the union at the time. The teacher changed the grade when the design was accepted by Congress.
N.H. Town Seeks An Identity — And A Slogan
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:30:00 -0400
The winner of a contest to come up with a new slogan for Raymond, N.H., will appear on Oprah — except she doesn't know it. Resident Paul Brown came up with the idea for the contest, which is open to anyone and encourages cheating and plagiarism.
From Atop Sears Tower, A Ledge With A View
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:14:00 -0400
A new ledge opens at the Sears Tower Skydeck in Chicago. The enclosed glass box extends 4 feet from the building and allows visitors to stare 1,353 feet down to the ground.
Politicians Reconsider Drilling Off Florida Coast
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:01:00 -0400
For years, oil production has been largely banned in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida. In large part, that's because of concerns that a spill could devastate the state's tourism industry. But now, some elected officials seem willing to take another look at offshore drilling after years of opposition.
Saddam's Fear Of Iran Trumped Fear Of U.S.
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:05:00 -0400
In a series of interviews between February and June of 2004, the late Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein told an FBI interrogator that he falsely let the world believe Iraq had weapons of mass destruction because he feared revealing that weakness to Iran.
Serena, Venus Reach Wimbledon Final, Again
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:14:00 -0400
One Williams or the other has won seven of the past nine championships at the All England Club. Serena beat Venus in the 2002 and '03 finals here, while Venus came out on top against her younger sister last year.
Mother, Son Tell Of Family Life During War
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:00:00 -0400
U.S. combat troops have begun to withdraw forces from Iraqi cities, marking a milestone in the six-year long occupation. As the situation in Iraq changes course, a new focus has centered on the social impact of the war efforts in the region. Iraqis Faiza Al-Araji and Raed Jarrar, a mother and son blogging team, explain how the past six years have changed the dynamics of family life in the region. Also, NPR's Ghassan Adnan reports from on the ground from Baghdad.
Debating The Burqa: Sarkozy Proposes Ban
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:00:00 -0400
French President Nicolas Sarkozy wants to ban Muslim women from wearing the burqa, a religious traditional covering, in public. American Muslim Mehded Maryam Sinclair explains why she appreciates the right to cover her face and head in public, while Muslim feminist and columnist Mona Eltahawy tells why she sees the garment as a source of oppression.

Subscribe to People RSS feed