People, especially women, who have been divorced from their spouses.
From French divorcée (feminine form of divorcé), from divorce. The term historically emphasized women more than men.
The word 'divorcee' used to carry huge social stigma—divorced women in the 1950s were almost unemployable, which is why laws protecting their rights became such important feminist victories.
Historically, divorce carried severe stigma for women but less for men. The feminized form 'divorcée' persists in English/French, while male divorcees lack equivalent marking, reflecting gendered social judgment.
Use 'divorcee' for all genders, or specify 'divorced person' when clarity matters. Avoid the accented 'divorcée' as it unnecessarily marks gender.
["divorced person","divorced people","divorcee (unmarked)"]
Women won the right to initiate divorce in most Western nations only in the 20th century; the linguistic marking of divorcees reflects their historical legal and social vulnerability.
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