To shake or disturb something physically, like stirring a liquid. It also means to stir up feelings, public opinion, or trouble, often to push for change.
From Latin *agitare* “to set in motion, to drive,” frequentative of *agere* “to do, drive.” The emotional and political senses grew from the idea of stirring things up.
To agitate a liquid and to agitate a crowd are the same metaphor: you’re stirring things so they can’t settle. Activists who ‘agitate’ are deliberately shaking up the social mixture so hidden issues rise to the surface.
'Agitators' in political and labor movements have included many women, especially in suffrage and workers’ rights campaigns, yet their roles were often downplayed. The term has sometimes been used to dismiss women’s organizing as irrational or disruptive rather than political.
Use 'agitate' neutrally for organizing or stirring up concern; avoid gendered framing that trivializes women’s or marginalized groups’ activism.
["organize","campaign","stir up","advocate strongly"]
Women agitators and organizers have been central to social change, from voting rights to workplace protections, even when official histories foreground male leaders.
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