Conception is the beginning of something, such as the start of a baby’s development or the first forming of an idea or plan. It marks the moment when something new starts to exist.
From Latin 'conceptiō', from 'concipere' ('to take in, conceive'). It has long been used for both the biological start of life and the mental start of an idea.
Just as a human life has a moment when it begins, every project, invention, or movement has a moment of conception—often just a quiet thought in someone’s mind. History books usually show the final result, but everything big began as an invisible conception.
Historically, 'conception' in reproductive contexts was framed through male-centric theories of generation, often minimizing women's biological role to that of a passive vessel. Medical and religious discourse for centuries reflected these biases, which influenced laws and social norms around pregnancy and parenthood.
In reproductive contexts, be explicit and accurate about all biological and social roles involved, avoiding language that treats women or gestating people as passive objects. In intellectual contexts ('the conception of an idea'), the term is neutral.
["understanding","formation","origin","beginning of pregnancy","fertilization"]
When discussing historical theories of conception, acknowledge how women’s embodied knowledge and midwifery traditions were sidelined or suppressed by male-dominated medical institutions.
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