A fixed or limited number or amount of something that is officially allowed, needed, or expected.
From Latin *quota (pars)* meaning 'how large a share', from *quot* ('how many'). It began as a term for proportional shares, especially in taxes and supplies.
Quota is basically 'how much each gets' turned into a rule. Whether it’s fishing quotas, sales quotas, or diversity quotas, the word always hides a decision about fairness—and who gets to define it.
"Quota" became gender-salient in the 20th century with debates over gender quotas in politics, corporate boards, and education. It has been used both to advance representation of women and to disparage such measures as unfair or tokenistic.
When discussing gender quotas, be precise about goals (e.g., correcting structural exclusion) and avoid framing women or minorities as "quota hires." Focus on systems, not individuals.
["target","minimum representation threshold","allocation limit"]
When describing quota policies, acknowledge research and advocacy by women who designed and implemented these mechanisms to expand democratic participation and workplace equity.
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