zhenshchina

Zhenshchina, transliterated from the Russian word женщина, is a noun that denotes an adult female human. It is used in Russian and in some scholarly and literary contexts to refer to women in general, as distinct from a wife (жена) or a girl (девочка). The standard plural form is женщины (zhenshiny), and the corresponding adjective is женский (zhenskiy). In English-language scholarship, zhenshchina is typically used in linguistic or sociocultural discussions of gender and culture rather than as everyday language.

Etymology: The term originates in Slavic languages from roots meaning female, reflecting the grammatical gender system of Russian.

Usage: In modern Russian, the word is a neutral descriptor but can bear social or ideological connotations depending on context, such as discussions of gender roles, labor participation, or rights. In historical, literary, or media contexts it may carry particular stylistic or polemical tones.

See also: gender, feminism, women in society, gender studies.