A person who believes that things have fixed, unchanging essences or core natures, or who applies this view to groups of people.
From essentialism plus -ist (one who practices or believes in). The term is modern, gaining critical usage in the late 20th century when philosophers and social theorists challenged essentialist thinking.
When someone says 'boys are naturally aggressive' or 'artists are born, not made,' they're being essentialist — but they might not know it! Recognizing this word helps you spot when someone's treating temporary or cultural traits as permanent biology.
Essentialist thinking about gender solidified in 19th-century philosophy and pseudoscience, used to argue women were essentially suited only for motherhood and domestic roles.
Describe critiques of essentialism; avoid using essentialist framing uncritically when discussing any group.
["constructivist","intersectional","evidence-based"]
Black feminist scholars (Kimberlé Crenshaw, Patricia Hill Collins) advanced intersectionality specifically to counter essentialist thinking that erased multiply-marginalized women.
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