The act of starting something that is meant to last, like an organization or system. It can also mean a business or organization, or the powerful people and institutions that control a society.
From *establish* plus the noun-forming suffix *-ment*. *Establish* comes from Latin *stabilire* 'to make stable'.
The establishment can mean a specific place (like a restaurant) or the whole network of people 'in charge' of a society. That double meaning shows how power hides inside everyday structures. When people say 'challenging the establishment', they’re really talking about shaking what once seemed permanent.
'The establishment' has often referred to male‑dominated political, economic, and academic elites, reflecting how formal power structures excluded women and gender minorities. Institutions described as the establishment historically enforced gendered norms and barriers.
When critiquing 'the establishment,' be specific about which institutions and power structures you mean, and acknowledge how they have treated different gender groups.
["institutional order","power structure","status quo institutions"]
When analyzing establishments in politics, business, or academia, highlight how women and gender‑diverse people have challenged and reshaped these structures, often from marginalized positions.
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