Temperance means controlling your actions, feelings, or desires so that you do not do anything to excess. Historically, it often referred specifically to avoiding or limiting alcohol.
It comes from Latin 'temperantia' meaning 'moderation or self-control', from 'temperare' meaning 'to mix in proper proportions or moderate'. The idea involves keeping things in balance.
Temperance movements in the 1800s were so strong that they actually helped bring about alcohol bans in some countries. The word itself is a reminder that self‑control isn’t just about saying no, but about tuning your desires to a healthy 'middle setting'.
Temperance movements, especially in the 19th and early 20th centuries, were heavily gendered, with women activists framing alcohol control as protection from male violence and economic harm. The term has been tied to moral expectations placed particularly on women.
Use “temperance” with historical specificity, and avoid implying that restraint or moral virtue is the special responsibility of one gender.
["moderation","abstinence","self-restraint"]
Women leaders in temperance movements were also early organizers for suffrage and social reform, using temperance as a platform for broader political engagement.
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