Guidance is help or advice that shows someone what to do or how to handle a situation. It can come from people, like teachers or mentors, or from written rules and instructions.
From the verb “guide,” from Old French “guider,” “to lead, direct,” probably of Germanic origin, plus the noun-forming ending “-ance.” It names the action or result of guiding.
Guidance is leadership turned into a service—someone walking ahead so you don’t have to guess the path. In school and work, we often look for “guidance counselors,” people whose entire role is to help you find direction.
Guidance roles have often been gendered, with men cast as authoritative guides and women as informal or emotional supporters. Women’s formal guidance (as teachers, advisors) has sometimes been undervalued compared with men’s.
Use ‘guidance’ neutrally; avoid assuming that authoritative guidance comes from men and emotional guidance from women. Specify expertise rather than gender.
["advice","direction","counsel","support"]
When describing guidance in historical or technical fields, include women mentors, educators, and advisors whose roles have been downplayed.
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