Adjective: based on facts, not influenced by personal feelings or opinions. Noun: something you are trying to achieve; a goal.
From Medieval Latin “objectivus,” meaning “relating to an object,” from “objectum” (something put before). The sense of “goal” grew from the idea of something placed in front of you to aim at.
“Objective” has two lives: in science, it means neutral and fact-based; in everyday use, it’s just a fancy word for “goal.” Remembering that both meanings involve something “out there” in front of you helps tie them together.
Claims of “objectivity” in science and journalism have sometimes been used to marginalize women’s perspectives as subjective or biased, while treating male-dominated viewpoints as neutral. Feminist epistemology has shown how what counts as objective has been shaped by gendered power.
Use “objective” to describe methods and standards rather than dismissing lived experiences, and recognize that diverse perspectives can strengthen objectivity.
["evidence-based","systematic","transparent in method"]
Women scholars and journalists have expanded understandings of objectivity by highlighting how including marginalized perspectives can reduce bias.
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