infantilization
1
8.8
- noun
- /ɪnˌfæntɪlaɪˈzeɪʃən/
- Formal
:
infantilización
- The study highlighted the effects of infantilization on adult relationships, showing how it undermines equality.
Examples
-
His new conduct while in the classroom with undergraduate students signals to me an attitude that I see gaining ground in higher education, an attitude that results in an infantilization of university studies and in a transformation of teachers into psychotherapists.
Academic text (1999) -
One direction forward points to the further infantilization of the teaching profession.
Academic text (2001) -
I think the infantilization of students played a certain role in that.
-
For women in particular, the personal hygiene regulations illustrated their infantilization and dependent status within the prison regime.
Academic text (1993) -
Patriarchy, in my opinion, was always driven by male hyperagency and female infantilization.
Blog text (26) -
Simply by allowing that myth to continue, they're helping to propagate hatred of men as a group and infantilization of women.
Blog text (5) -
The role and mechanics of infantilization in both the colonization and missionization efforts are certainly topics worth further exploration.
Academic text (2006) -
At worst, this leads to what Boston University President Jon Westling calls "the infantilization of adolescence"—failure to take the young seriously enough to help them learn anything about reality and their responsibilities in it.
Academic text (2001) -
The infantilization of young adults can hinder their ability to make independent decisions.
-
Many argued that the infantilization of employees limits their potential and creativity.
Synonyms
To treat an adult like a child without a good reason
Antonyms
608
3.0
Freedom from control by others, for example when a country is free or a person supports themselves
How Patronizing
Surface Forms
Morphology
infantilization = infantilize (transparent) = infant + ile + ize + ation
The noun is a regular -ation nominalization of the verb 'infantilize', which is itself derived from 'infant' via the adjective 'infantile', so the overall relation is directly inferable.
Etymology
The word infantilization comes from infant meaning 'baby' and the ending -ization meaning 'the process of'. So infantilization is the process of making someone like a baby, which explains why it means treating an adult as if they cannot make their own choices or take responsibility.