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paternalism

paternalism

4 8.4
People in charge limit others' freedom and choices, saying it is for their good
  • noun
  • /ˌpætərˈnælɪzəm/
  • Formal
: paternalismo
  • The latter kind of paternalism is a form of domination.
  • state paternalism
  • benevolent paternalism
  • economic paternalism

She talks about Southern planters, considering that the Africans who docilely submitted to their paternalism were grown up children.

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Examples

  • The experience of the Florida Seminoles with the Indian New Deal provides another example of paternalism winning out over democratic principles.

    Academic text (1994)
  • And so government paternalism in those areas makes us better off.

  • I think that there is a lot of unintended paternalism when people think about technology.

  • As a result, social policy has been driven away from structural reforms and toward paternalism.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Hierarchical relationships and paternalism are giving way to rejection and opposition.

    Academic text (1992)
  • Thanks to your misguided paternalism, racial tension will always be front and center.

    Blog text (17)
  • As such, paternalism tends to perpetuate a structure of dependency and subordination.

    Academic text (1992)
  • In each case, the dominating class pretends to a benevolent paternalism, assuming the subordinate class needs protection and direction.

    Academic text (1992)
  • The government implemented paternalism by restricting access to certain health information for the citizens' safety.

  • In many workplaces, paternalism can lead to employees feeling undervalued and patronized by management.

Synonyms

nanny state
vspaternalism
  • Literature
10 7.7

A government that protects people too much and limits their choices

is when authority interferes while saying it protects people's interests
overregulation
vspaternalism
2 7.4

Many rules that make doing things harder than necessary

is when rules are imposed while claiming to benefit those affected
oppressiveness
vspaternalism
1 8.2

A strong, heavy feeling that makes people feel trapped or uncomfortable

involves restriction framed as for people's good rather than open cruelty
restrictiveness
vspaternalism
1 7.3

Limiting what people can do

is when authority limits while claiming to act for others' good
overcontrol
vspaternalism
1 7.1

Too much control that stops people from doing things on their own

is similar but stresses limits presented as protective rather than merely controlling

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

The right to act, speak, or think as you want without being stopped

450 3.3

Being free from unfair rules or control by government

autonomy
  • Formal
48 6.7

The right of a region or group to run its own government

How Controlling

tyranny
109 6.7
paternalism
  • Formal
4 8.4

Surface Forms

paternalism singular
paternalisms plural

Morphology

paternalism = paternal (transparent) = paternal + ism

Meaning is directly derived from 'paternal' (fatherly) plus the noun-forming suffix '-ism' indicating a system or practice.

Etymology

The word paternalism comes from the Latin root pater meaning 'father' and the ending -ism meaning 'a practice or system'. So paternalism is like 'acting as a father': people in power limit others' freedom because they say it is 'for their good'.