Woman

A woman (plural: women) is an adult female human. The term is typically used to distinguish adult females from men and from girls, who are female children who have not yet reached adulthood. In other languages, the word corresponds to "woman" in English, "امرأة" in Arabic, and "femme" in French.

The meaning of the term rests on two interrelated dimensions: biological characteristics (such as reproductive organs, hormones, and body structure) and social roles constructed by culture and time. Social sciences conventionally distinguish between biological sex and socially constructed gender identity.

Biological aspects

Most women have two X chromosomes, ovaries that produce eggs and hormones including estrogen and progesterone, and a reproductive system that includes a uterus. After reaching adulthood, the body begins the menstrual cycle, which continues until menopause. Naturally occurring variation exists—such as intersex conditions—that do not fit these typical characteristics.

Pregnancy and health

Reproductive capacity and childbirth have led health systems to develop specialized services known as maternal health. Mortality related to pregnancy and childbirth varies widely between countries, affected by access to services, the number of trained birth attendants, and the distance to hospitals. Women also experience certain diseases more frequently, such as cervical cancer and cancers of the reproductive tract.

Social roles and work

In most societies, women have been assigned unpaid care work in the home—raising children, preparing food, and caring for the elderly. In recent centuries, women's participation in the paid labour market has increased, but wage gaps and the proportion of women in senior positions remain lower than for men in many places. In agriculture and small business in developing countries, women constitute a significant share of the workforce.

Rights and legal reform

In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, movements advocating for women's rights succeeded in securing voting rights, property ownership, and education. International agreements—such as CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) by the United Nations—call on countries to end sex-based discrimination. Implementation and legislation vary considerably, particularly in matters of inheritance, marriage, and protection from violence.