paid occupations requiring specialized education and training; declarations or claims
From Latin 'professio' meaning 'public declaration', from 'profiteri' (to declare publicly)
The word 'profession' originally meant making a public vow or declaration - which is why we still 'profess' our beliefs and why becoming a professional meant publicly declaring your expertise.
Professions historically segregated by gender; certain fields coded masculine ('engineer', 'surgeon') commanded higher status and pay, while female-dominated professions ('nurse', 'secretary') were devalued despite equal skill requirements.
Avoid gendered job titles ('steward/stewardess', 'fireman/firewoman'). Use neutral forms consistently. When discussing fields, note historical segregation and current workforce composition.
["occupations","careers","fields"]
Women entered male-dominated professions (law, medicine, engineering) against institutional barriers; their contributions established many contemporary standards (e.g., Grace Hopper in computing).
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