Raising or bringing up children or young animals; or when a horse stands up on its hind legs.
From Old English 'rēran' meaning to raise, set upright, or elevate. The term has been used for both child-rearing and animal behavior since medieval times.
The two meanings of 'rearing'—raising children and horses standing up—both come from the same root meaning 'to raise up,' which shows how old and natural this concept is to human language!
Child-rearing became gendered feminine through 19th-20th century ideology positioning motherhood as primary female duty; 'rearing' carries this maternal assumption despite applicability to any parent.
Use 'parenting' or 'raising' for gender-neutral intent; 'rearing' is acceptable but specify parent/guardian context to avoid maternal default.
["parenting","raising","guardianship"]
Fathers' caregiving contributions remain underrecognized in language; intentional use of 'parent' or 'guardian' affirms diverse care arrangements.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.