Wealth is a large amount of money, property, or other valuable things that a person or group owns.
“Wealth” comes from Old English “weal,” meaning “well-being, prosperity,” plus the -th ending for a state or condition. It originally meant general happiness and welfare, not just money.
The word started out meaning “well-being,” which hints that true wealth was once measured in more than coins. Today we mostly count dollars, but ideas like health, time, and strong relationships are older kinds of wealth hiding in the word’s history.
Wealth accumulation and inheritance systems have historically favored men in many societies, with laws and customs restricting women’s property rights. Language about 'wealth holders' and 'breadwinners' often implicitly centered men.
When discussing wealth, avoid assuming that wealth creators or owners are male; explicitly include women and gender-diverse people in analyses and examples.
Women’s economic activity, both paid and unpaid, has been a major driver of household and national wealth, even when legal and social systems denied them control over assets.
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