Absolutely necessary or extremely important. It can also mean related to the basic nature of something.
From Latin *essentialis* 'of the essence', from *essentia* 'being, essence'. It originally referred to what belongs to a thing’s true nature.
Essential goes beyond 'useful' or 'nice to have'—it points to what something can’t exist without. That’s why we talk about essential workers, essential nutrients, and essential questions. The word quietly asks, 'If you removed this, would the whole thing fall apart?'
The term 'essential' has been central in debates about biological and social essentialism, including claims that certain gender roles are 'essential' to women or men. These ideas have historically been used to restrict women’s participation in education, work, and politics by portraying alternative roles as unnatural.
Use 'essential' for clearly defined requirements (e.g., 'essential functions of a job') and avoid declaring traits or roles as essential to any gender or identity group.
["necessary","crucial","indispensable","core"]
When reviewing claims that certain roles are 'essential' to women or men, highlight how such arguments have been used to exclude women from public life and recognize those who challenged these constraints.
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