A person who worships, adores, or excessively reveres women or the feminine principle.
From Greek 'gyne' (woman) + 'latres' (worshipper, from 'latreia', worship). The term emerged in 19th-century English as a satirical or descriptive term for men who idealize femininity.
Victorian-era writers used 'gyneolater' to mock men who elevated women to pedestals—paradoxically, this 'worship' often denied women actual power and agency, showing that idealization and real equality aren't the same thing.
Describes those who revere women; the term carries ambivalence—while seemingly positive, 'female worship' has been used to justify paternalism and pedestal-placement that denies women agency and equality.
Avoid. Use 'feminist advocate' or 'women's rights supporter' to focus on equity and partnership rather than idealization.
["feminist advocate","women's rights supporter","equity champion"]
True solidarity with women's interests centers their agency, not their idealization; women's own leadership and voices should drive discourse, not external reverence.
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