Verb: to care for and encourage the growth or development of someone or something. Noun: the process of caring, training, and guiding development.
From Old French “nourrir” (to nourish) and “nourreture,” related to Latin “nutrire,” meaning “to feed, foster.” It shares roots with “nourish,” “nurse,” and “nutrition.”
The famous phrase “nature versus nurture” uses this word to stand for everything in our environment that shapes us—family, culture, education. Its deep link to “nourish” reminds us that development isn’t just about feeding bodies, but minds and emotions too.
“Nurture” has been heavily associated with motherhood and femininity, reinforcing the idea that women are naturally responsible for emotional and developmental care. This framing has obscured men’s and non-binary people’s roles in nurturing and has contributed to undervaluing caregiving work.
Use “nurture” for any caregiver, mentor, or institution, and avoid implying that nurturing is inherently tied to women or mothers.
["support","foster","cultivate"]
Women have historically provided extensive nurturing labor in families, schools, and communities, forming the backbone of social reproduction while often being excluded from formal power.
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