To officially say that something is not allowed. A ban usually comes from a person or group with authority, like a government, school, or company.
It comes from Old English “bannan,” meaning to summon or proclaim, and from Old Norse “banna,” to curse or forbid. Over time, the meaning narrowed to focus on forbidding.
“Ban” used to be more about making big public announcements, not just forbidding things. The idea shifted from loudly calling something out to loudly saying, “This is off-limits.”
Bans have often been applied in gendered ways, such as restrictions on women's work, education, dress, and movement, or on transgender people's access to facilities and services. Legal and informal bans have historically enforced gender hierarchies and limited women's and gender‑diverse people's autonomy.
When describing bans, be explicit about who is affected and avoid neutral language that hides disproportionate impact on specific genders. Acknowledge when bans have been used to control or exclude particular gendered groups.
["prohibit","restrict","forbid"]
Women and gender‑diverse activists have challenged discriminatory bans in courts, workplaces, and communities, often at significant personal risk, leading to expanded rights and protections.
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