Made quiet or prevented from speaking; took away someone's voice or the ability to make sound.
From Old French 'silence,' from Latin 'silentium' (quietness). The '-ed' suffix marks past tense in English.
Censorship and silencing are as old as writing itself—the Romans literally chiseled out names and faces of disgraced rulers from statues, calling it 'damnatio memoriae' (condemnation of memory), trying to erase people from history.
Systemic silencing of women's voices—through legal, professional, and social mechanisms—is well-documented. Women's testimony, expertise, and dissent have been historically dismissed, disallowed, or erased.
When describing silencing, acknowledge power dynamics and structural barriers rather than treating silence as individual choice.
Recognizing women's historical silencing is central to amplifying women's contributions and testimony in all domains.
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