As an adjective, it means relating to a job that needs special education or training, or behaving in a serious and responsible way. As a noun, it means a person who does a job as their main paid work, not as a hobby.
From Middle English, via Old French *professionel*, from Latin *professio* meaning 'public declaration' or 'occupation'. It originally referred to people who publicly declared their occupation or faith, especially in religious contexts.
The word is tied to the idea of making a public promise about your skills or role. Being 'professional' isn’t just about being paid; it’s about living up to that public promise in how you act.
'Professional' has been used to gatekeep historically male-dominated fields, with women described as 'not professional enough' or relegated to 'semi-professional' roles despite equivalent work. Dress and behavior codes for 'professionalism' have also policed women's and gender-diverse people's appearance more harshly.
Apply 'professional' consistently across genders; avoid using it as a coded term for conformity to a specific gendered or racialized style.
["qualified","skilled","workplace-appropriate"]
Women have professionalized numerous fields—from nursing to law and engineering—often organizing associations and standards that later histories attributed mainly to male leaders.
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