Noun: a thing that can be seen or touched, or a goal you aim for. Verb: to express disagreement or disapproval.
From Latin “objectum,” meaning “something thrown in the way” or “put before,” from “ob-” (toward, against) + “iacere” (to throw). The verb form developed later from the idea of ‘throwing’ your disagreement against something.
English flips the stress to show grammar: OBject (a thing) vs. obJECT (to disagree). This stress pattern happens in several noun–verb pairs and can be a powerful pronunciation clue.
The noun “object” is central to discussions of objectification, where women in particular have been treated as objects for others’ use or gaze rather than as full subjects. This conceptual and linguistic framing has supported gendered dehumanization.
Use “object” carefully when referring to people; in contexts of objectification, make the critique explicit rather than casually labeling people as objects.
["person","individual","subject"]
Feminist theory has exposed how women’s objectification operates in media, law, and everyday language, pushing for recognition of women as full subjects with agency.
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