An exemption is official permission to not do something that others are required to do, or to not pay something that others must pay. It removes a rule or duty for a specific person or group.
It comes from Latin 'exemptio', from 'eximere' meaning 'to take out, remove', from 'ex-' (out) and 'emere' (to take). An exemption is literally something taken out of a general requirement.
Exemptions show where rules bend—and who has the power to bend them. Whether it’s taxes, exams, or dress codes, exemptions quietly reveal what a system cares about enough to make exceptions for.
Legal and institutional exemptions have sometimes been used to exclude women from benefits or obligations, such as exemptions that kept women out of certain professions or limited their access to insurance and pensions. Conversely, some exemptions (e.g., from combat or jury service) were framed as protective but also reinforced stereotypes about women’s roles.
When discussing exemptions, be explicit about who is exempted and why, and consider whether criteria have gendered or other disparate impacts. Avoid assuming that historically gender-based exemptions were neutral or purely protective.
["exception","carve-out","special provision","waiver"]
Women lawyers, activists, and policymakers have scrutinized gendered exemptions in law and policy, helping to remove discriminatory exclusions and to design accommodations that do not reinforce stereotypes.
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