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Infantilize is a verb that refers to the act of treating someone as if they were a child or infant, particularly by underestimating their abilities, responsibilities, or maturity. It involves encouraging or persisting in behaviors, attitudes, or expectations that are more appropriate for a child than an adult.
When someone is infantilized, they may be subjected to excessive protection, over-nurturing, or overly simplistic explanations. This behavior can be condescending, demeaning, and disempowering to the person being infantilized, often undermining their sense of autonomy and self-worth.
Infantilization can occur in various contexts, such as personal relationships, workplaces, or institutions. For example, a parent who continues to make decisions for their adult child without considering their input or desires is infantilizing them. Likewise, an employer who treats their employees as incapable and micromanages every aspect of their work, failing to acknowledge their competence, is engaging in infantilization.
The term can also be used more broadly to describe societal or cultural practices that perpetuate a state of perpetual childhood, creating a dependency on authority figures or preventing personal growth and independence. For instance, if a society imposes excessive restrictions or limitations on individuals based on their age, limiting their access to certain opportunities or responsibilities, it can be said to infantilize its members.
In summary, to infantilize someone is to treat them in a way that disregards their adult capabilities, independence, and dignity, often assuming a position of superiority or control.
The word "infantilize" is derived from the Latin noun "infans", which means "not speaking" or "unable to speak", combined with the suffix "-ize" that signifies the process of making someone or something conform to a particular quality or state. "Infantilize" is believed to have originated in the early 19th century and refers to treating or portraying someone as if they were an infant or child, reducing their maturity, independence, or agency.
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CONDITIONAL PERFECT
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CONDITIONAL PERFECT CONTINUOUS
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FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS
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PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
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PRESENT
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PRESENT CONTINUOUS
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PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
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