Skills, education, or experience that makes someone suited for a particular job or task, or the act of qualifying for something.
From Latin 'qualificare' (to make of what quality), combining 'qualis' (of what kind) and 'facere' (to make). The modern sense solidified in the 19th century as standardized education and certification became important.
Interestingly, 'qualifications' is one of those words that proves language tracks social change—it barely existed in English before universities became widespread, showing how the word emerged precisely when society needed to measure who was 'qualified' for increasingly specialized work.
Credentialing historically excluded women—'qualified' embedded male professional norms; women's credentials scrutinized more harshly (imposter syndrome literature).
Name credentials specifically; audit hiring/promotion for hidden gender bias in 'qualification' standards. Question whether 'qualified' assumes male-coded experience.
Women earned advanced degrees earlier than broad institutional acceptance; many fields required women to over-qualify to be seen as credible.
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