In what ways does language play a role in integrating courage?
Words and language play a great role in what we believe is possible for women. By the 12th century, virtue in Old French was vertu “desirable male qualities, worth, virtue, or virility.” In Latin, virtue was virs, or energy. Virtue and virile are links to men. This suggests that if women aren’t virtuous they can’t be courageous. If we sex-link attributes through language, such as “manly acts” (implying women cannot be courageous), then society tends not to recognize courage in women.
