As an adjective, it means completely without mistakes or flaws. As a verb, it means to improve something until it is as good as it can possibly be.
From Latin “perfectus,” meaning “completed, finished, made thoroughly,” from “per-” (completely) + “facere” (to make). It originally meant something fully done, not necessarily flawless.
Perfect originally meant ‘finished,’ not ‘flawless,’ which flips how we think about it. Sometimes chasing perfection actually stops you from finishing, which is ironically the original meaning of being ‘perfect.’
Ideals of being 'perfect' have often been gendered differently, with women subjected to narrow standards of appearance and behavior and men to different performance expectations. Language around the 'perfect woman' or 'perfect wife' has historically reinforced restrictive gender roles.
Avoid using 'perfect' to describe gendered ideals (e.g., 'perfect wife/mother') in ways that reinforce stereotypes; instead, specify qualities (kind, reliable, skilled) that are not tied to gender.
["excellent","very good","high-quality","ideal (context-specific)"]
Women writers, activists, and scholars have critically examined 'perfect woman' tropes, helping to broaden social understandings of women's roles and identities.
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