Courage is the ability to face fear, danger, or difficulty, even when you feel afraid.
From Old French “corage,” meaning “heart, spirit,” from Latin “cor” (heart). The word originally pointed to the inner feelings of the heart rather than the absence of fear.
Courage doesn’t mean having no fear; it means acting while your heart is pounding. The root in ‘heart’ reminds us that bravery is more about inner strength than outer toughness.
Courage has often been coded as a masculine virtue in many cultures, tied to warfare and public leadership, while women’s courage in domestic, caregiving, and activist roles was minimized or framed as secondary. This produced a narrow stereotype of what kinds of bravery "counted."
Use “courage” for all forms of bravery, including emotional, intellectual, and social courage, and apply it equally to people of all genders. Avoid implying that physical risk in traditionally male-coded roles is the primary or only form of courage.
When giving examples of courage, include women’s and gender-diverse people’s contributions in social movements, science, caregiving, and everyday resistance, not only male military or political figures.
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