To reproduce is to make a copy of something, or to have offspring and create new living beings. It can refer to both biological processes and copying art, text, or sounds.
From Latin *re-* meaning 'again' + *producere* meaning 'to bring forth or produce'. The word entered English in the 17th century as science and printing developed, linking biological and mechanical copying under one term.
Reproduce is one of those words that works in both biology labs and art studios—cells reproduce, and so do photographs. The same basic idea—'making again'—ties together everything from making babies to copying a PDF.
'Reproduce' in biological and social contexts has often been used in ways that reduce women to reproductive roles or obligations. Historical discourses on 'reproduction' frequently framed women's value in terms of childbearing and population growth, sidelining their broader social, intellectual, and economic contributions.
When discussing human reproduction, avoid language that treats women as passive vessels or assumes all women can or want to bear children. Use precise, body-part–based or role-based language (e.g., 'people who can become pregnant') where medically or socially relevant.
["have children","have a baby","biological reproduction","create a copy","duplicate"]
In discussions of reproduction, acknowledge the contributions of women scientists, midwives, and reproductive health advocates who advanced knowledge and autonomy, such as early women physicians and reproductive rights organizers.
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