A chemical made in the body that travels in the blood and controls or influences activities like growth, mood, and energy.
From Greek “hormōn,” meaning “to set in motion” or “to excite,” coined in the early 1900s for these newly discovered body chemicals. Scientists chose the word to show that hormones get processes moving.
Hormones are like chemical text messages your body sends to itself, telling cells when to grow, sleep, or stress out. That’s why a tiny change in hormone levels can massively change how you feel and act.
Hormones have often been invoked to naturalize gender stereotypes, portraying women as 'ruled by hormones' and men as rational, despite all humans having complex hormonal systems. This language has been used to dismiss women’s emotions and justify exclusion from decision-making roles.
Use 'hormone' scientifically without implying that hormonal influence makes any gender inherently less rational or competent; avoid jokes or stereotypes that reduce people, especially women, to their hormones.
When discussing hormones and behavior, acknowledge women and gender-diverse researchers who have challenged simplistic hormonal explanations for gendered behavior.
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