The act of choosing something from a group, or the thing that has been chosen. It can also mean the range of things available to choose from.
From Latin 'selectio', from 'seligere' meaning 'to pick out'. It entered English through French, keeping the sense of a careful or deliberate choice.
When biologists say 'natural selection', they’re using the same everyday idea as choosing snacks—just stretched over millions of years. Nature is constantly 'selecting' which traits get passed on, the way you keep choosing your favorite foods.
In social and biological contexts, “selection” has sometimes been misused to justify gender hierarchies or stereotypes as ‘naturally selected.’ Social selection processes (like hiring) have also historically favored men due to explicit and implicit bias.
When discussing selection, distinguish clearly between biological processes and social bias, and avoid using ‘selection’ language to naturalize discriminatory gender practices.
In topics like hiring, admissions, or political selection, acknowledge how women and gender minorities have been excluded and how reforms have aimed to make selection more equitable.
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