A subsidy is money or support given, often by a government, to help lower the cost of a product or service or to support a business or activity.
From Latin 'subsidium' meaning 'help, reserve troops, support'. It moved from the idea of backup soldiers to financial backup.
Subsidies are like hidden coupons built into the economy: you don’t see the discount at the store, but it’s already baked into the price. They can make good things cheaper (like education) but can also accidentally encourage waste or pollution.
Subsidies have often intersected with gendered labor markets, for example in agriculture, childcare, and social welfare. Policies sometimes privileged male breadwinners while treating women as dependents, shaping who received subsidies and on what terms.
Clarify when subsidies address gendered inequities (such as supporting caregivers or women-led enterprises) and avoid language that stigmatizes recipients, especially women and marginalized groups.
Highlight how subsidies have been used to expand women's access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, not only to support traditional gender roles.
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