To exert means to use strength, effort, or influence to do something. It often suggests working hard or applying pressure.
It comes from Latin 'exserere', meaning 'to thrust out, stretch forth', from 'ex-' (out) and 'serere' (to join, put together). The idea is of pushing your power or energy outward into the world.
When you 'exert yourself', you’re literally pushing your inner energy out where it can be seen and measured. Power—physical or social—doesn’t matter much until it’s exerted.
“Exert” in contexts like “exert yourself” or “exert physical effort” has historically been discouraged for women in some cultures, under beliefs that strenuous effort was unfeminine or harmful. Conversely, phrases like “exert authority” have often been associated with male-coded leadership styles.
Use “exert” neutrally across genders for effort, influence, or authority, and avoid implying that physical or assertive exertion is inappropriate for some genders. When discussing exertion, focus on consent, context, and impact rather than gendered expectations.
["apply (effort/pressure)","use (influence)","exercise (authority)","put in effort"]
Women athletes, workers, and leaders have normalized women’s exertion of both physical effort and authority, challenging stereotypes that equate femininity with passivity or delicacy.
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