Influence is the power to affect how someone thinks, feels, or acts without forcing them directly. As a verb, it means to have that kind of effect.
It comes from Medieval Latin “influentia,” meaning “a flowing in,” based on the idea that mysterious forces flowed from the stars to affect people. The meaning later shifted to any kind of unseen power or effect.
Influence started as a word for star-power—literally something “flowing in” from the heavens. Today we talk about social media influencers, but the basic idea is the same: invisible forces shaping behavior. Influence is powerful precisely because it often doesn’t feel like pressure at all.
Women’s influence has often been framed as informal or behind-the-scenes, while men’s influence is documented as leadership and authority. This language has obscured women’s direct political and intellectual impact.
Recognize influence exercised by people of all genders, including formal and informal roles; avoid diminishing women’s influence as merely ‘supportive’ or ‘soft.’
Highlight women’s and gender-diverse people’s influence in social movements, science, and policy, not just in domestic or relational spheres.
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