A person who receives and entertains guests; in biology, an animal or plant that another organism lives on or in.
From Old French “hoste,” from Latin “hospes,” meaning both “host” and “guest.” The word once covered both sides of the relationship between visitor and receiver.
It’s surprising that “host” and “guest” come from the same ancient root, showing how closely linked the two roles are. In biology, a “host” is still the one providing the “home,” just like in a party.
Socially, 'host' roles have often been gendered, with women expected to host in domestic settings and men in formal or public ones, reflecting broader gendered divisions of public and private spheres. In biology, 'host' is neutral, but in social contexts hosting has been tied to unpaid or underpaid feminine-coded labor.
Use 'host' as a gender-neutral term and avoid assuming hosting duties fall to women; specify roles rather than relying on gendered expectations.
["presenter","moderator","emcee","organizer"]
When describing events or media, credit women and gender-diverse hosts and organizers whose work is often backgrounded compared to male speakers or guests.
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