To suffer means to experience pain, hardship, or distress, whether physical, emotional, or mental.
From Old French 'sofrir', from Latin 'sufferre' meaning 'to bear, endure', from 'sub' (under) + 'ferre' (to carry). It focused on carrying or enduring something difficult.
At its root, 'suffer' is about carrying a burden, not just feeling hurt. That’s why people can 'suffer through' a boring lecture or 'suffer' from allergies—it’s all about what you’re forced to endure over time.
The verb "suffer" has been central in describing gendered harms, from childbirth and domestic violence to legal and economic discrimination. Women's suffering has at times been romanticized or normalized, framing endurance of pain as a feminine virtue.
Use "suffer" carefully to describe real harms without glorifying or trivializing them, and avoid suggesting that any gender is naturally meant to suffer in particular ways.
["experience harm","endure hardship","be affected by","face difficulties"]
When discussing women's suffering historically, pair it with accounts of their resistance, organizing, and advocacy rather than portraying them only as passive victims.
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