The state of being confined or restricted to a particular place or situation. Historically used to refer to the period of childbirth when women were secluded.
From French confinement, from confiner (to border upon, to confine), from Latin confinis (bordering). The suffix -ment indicates the result or condition of an action. The childbirth meaning developed because women were traditionally confined to their chambers during labor and recovery.
The historical practice of 'lying-in' or confinement during childbirth could last 6-8 weeks, reflecting both medical beliefs and social customs about women's vulnerability. Today, 'solitary confinement' in prisons is considered by many to be psychological torture, showing how our understanding of confinement's effects has evolved.
Historically applied disproportionately to women—from legal coverture restricting women's movement to medical confinement for 'hysteria' and childbirth recovery; gendered control of bodies.
Use with awareness of whose movement/liberty is restricted; specify the actual constraint rather than euphemizing.
["detention","restriction","hospitalization"]
Women's histories of forced confinement (from asylums to obstetric practice) were often justified by patriarchal medicine; recognize this context when discussing restrictions on any group.
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