As a noun, a pen is a tool used for writing or drawing with ink. It can also mean a small fenced area for keeping animals. As a verb, “to pen” means to write something or to shut animals or people into a small space.
The writing “pen” comes from Old French *penne*, meaning “feather,” because early pens were made from bird feathers (quills). The animal “pen” is from a different Old English root, *penn*, meaning “enclosure” or “fold.”
Two separate histories—feathers and fences—ended up with the same short word. One pen lets ideas out onto paper; the other keeps animals in. It’s a neat reminder that identical spellings can hide totally different stories.
Authorship with the “pen” has historically been male-dominated, with women’s writing often published under male pseudonyms or dismissed as less serious. The metaphorical “pen” as a symbol of literary authority has thus reflected gendered access to publication.
Use “pen” neutrally and avoid assuming authors are male; when discussing literary history, acknowledge how women and marginalized authors were excluded or forced into anonymity.
["writing instrument","author’s voice (metaphorical)"]
Women writers who persisted despite barriers have significantly shaped literature and journalism, even when their contributions were long attributed to men.
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