members of a senate; upper house legislators
From Latin senator, from senex 'old man, elder'
Senators are the SENIOR citizens of government - from 'senex'!
Senate chambers were male-only in most democracies until late 20th century. Language around 'senator' implicitly male; women senators had to explicitly claim the title.
Use 'senator' gender-neutrally for all; note when discussing historical exclusion.
Women senators' campaigns reclaimed institutional language; many fought for equal pay and reproductive rights within legislatures that had excluded women for centuries.
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