Past tense of 'haze'; subjected someone to harassment, abusive treatment, or initiation rituals, often in group or institutional settings.
From 'haze,' possibly from French 'haser' meaning 'to torment,' though origin is unclear; the verb form adds past tense '-ed.'
Hazing has a dark history in schools and fraternities, but the word's murky etymology—nobody's entirely sure where it comes from—somehow fits its sinister meaning perfectly.
Hazing (the ritual) has disproportionately targeted women in educational and military institutions, often used to enforce subordination. The gendered power dynamics embedded in hazing culture differ by context but frequently involve sexual humiliation.
Use 'hazing' in technical contexts neutrally; when discussing institutional practice, specify that it involves non-consensual harm and has gendered dimensions affecting different groups differently.
["initiation ritual","rite of passage (when consensual)","peer abuse"]
Women who resisted or reported hazing faced retaliation; centering survivor testimony (especially from underrepresented groups) in hazing reform is essential.
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