Charisma is a special charm or magnetism that makes people want to listen to, like, or follow someone. Charismatic people often seem naturally confident and inspiring.
“Charisma” comes from the Greek word “kharisma,” meaning “favor” or “divine gift.” It originally referred to spiritual gifts believed to be given by a god, and only later came to mean personal charm in everyday life.
Charisma originally had nothing to do with popularity—it was about magical or divine gifts. When you say someone is charismatic, you’re echoing an ancient idea that their charm almost feels supernatural. That’s why charismatic people often seem to have a kind of “spell” over a crowd.
Charisma has often been associated with male political and religious leaders, reinforcing an image of leadership as masculine and authoritative. Women’s charisma has sometimes been sexualized or framed as manipulative rather than as legitimate leadership quality.
Apply 'charisma' to leaders and public figures of any gender without defaulting to male examples, and avoid sexualizing or trivializing charisma when describing women and gender minorities.
["appeal","presence","magnetism"]
When discussing charismatic leadership, include women and gender-diverse leaders whose influence has been downplayed or framed as exceptional.
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