Caring too much about your own needs or wishes and not enough about other people. A selfish person often acts in ways that benefit themselves even when it hurts others.
Formed in English from 'self' + the adjective-forming suffix '-ish' in the 17th century. It originally described a focus on one’s own interest or advantage.
Calling someone 'selfish' is a moral judgment, but the word itself is just 'self-ish'—being very self-focused. Many modern psychologists argue that some 'selfish' behavior, like setting boundaries, is actually healthy and necessary.
The term “selfish” has often been applied asymmetrically, with women criticized as selfish for asserting needs or autonomy that are considered normal for men. In moral and psychological discourse, this has contributed to policing women’s behavior more harshly.
Use “selfish” carefully and consistently across genders, and be aware of double standards where similar behavior is praised as assertive in men but condemned as selfish in women.
["self-focused","prioritizing personal needs","not considering others"]
When analyzing norms around selfishness and care, acknowledge how women’s labor and self-sacrifice have been taken for granted and how challenging this has been framed as selfish.
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