Failed to care for or pay attention to someone or something, or left something unattended or in poor condition.
From Latin 'negligens'—'neg-' (not) and 'legere' (to choose or gather). It literally means 'not to choose' or 'to fail to select as important.' The word evolved to mean actively failing to give proper attention to something.
The word 'neglect' literally means 'not to choose'—so when you neglect something, you're actively choosing NOT to care for it. This is why 'neglected' feels different from 'forgotten'—it implies a choice was made, even if unconsciously!
Neglected historically describes both underserved populations and neglectful caretakers—a role coded as female. Women's own neglect (healthcare gaps, research underrepresentation) is often rendered invisible by this framing.
Be specific: 'underfunded,' 'overlooked,' or 'unsupported' clarify what is missing vs. who failed. Name systemic causes rather than passive neglect.
["underfunded","overlooked","systematically underserved"]
Women's health, safety, and research needs have been systematically neglected in medical and scientific institutions; naming this directly enables advocacy rather than accepting invisibility.
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