Plural of chairlady; women who preside over or lead meetings, organizations, or committees.
From 'chair' (a seat of authority) + 'lady' (a woman), combining Old English 'chaere' (seat) with Old English 'hlæfdige' (female head of household). The term emerged in the 20th century as women increasingly took leadership roles in organizations.
The word 'chairlady' was once common but is now seen as outdated—most organizations prefer 'chairwoman' or 'chair' regardless of gender, showing how language evolves to be more inclusive and neutral.
Plural of chairlady, coined as a feminine alternative to chairman in the 1970s-80s. Reflects how professional titles were gendered even when roles were identical, forcing women into marked linguistic categories.
Use chairperson or chair (verb) instead. These terms are neutral and describe the role, not the gender of the person filling it.
["chairperson","chair","leader"]
Women held leadership positions long before gender-neutral language existed; gendering titles retroactively obscured their authority by marking them as exceptions.
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