An applicant is a person who formally asks for something, such as a job, a loan, or a place at a school.
From Latin "applicare" meaning "to attach to" or "to apply," plus the ending that marks a person. It pictures someone attaching themselves to an opportunity or request.
The word makes people sound passive, but applicants actually do a ton of work—gathering documents, polishing resumes, rehearsing interviews. The label hides the effort behind a simple role name.
In hiring and admissions, applicants from marginalized genders have often faced discrimination, including assumptions about competence, commitment, or family plans. Language about "applicants" has sometimes masked unequal access and biased evaluation criteria.
Use "applicant" neutrally and avoid gendered assumptions about qualifications or likely performance. When describing applicant pools, be precise about demographic patterns without stereotyping.
["candidate","person applying"]
When discussing applicant selection, acknowledge research showing how women and other marginalized groups have been systematically screened out or undervalued, and highlight efforts to correct this.
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