STEPFORD Meaning and
Definition
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Stepford is a term that originated from the title of a novel called "The Stepford Wives" written by Ira Levin in 1972. The term has since become widely known and entered into popular culture to describe a particular type of community or lifestyle. A Stepford community refers to a fictional or real place in which its residents are seemingly perfect, orderly, and conformist, often to an unsettling degree.
The Stepford community is typically characterized by an emphasis on traditional gender roles, extreme conformity, and a lack of diversity in thought or behavior. The term is often used metaphorically to describe a society or group of people who appear to prioritize maintaining a pristine, idealized image over individuality or personal freedom. A Stepford individual is someone who seemingly lacks independent thought, behaves obediently, and conforms unquestioningly to societal norms and expectations.
The Stepford term also encompasses a sense of artificiality, suggesting that the perfection and conformity observed in these communities or individuals may be superficial or contrived. It evokes a sense of eeriness or discomfort, as it implies a lack of authenticity, spontaneity, or genuine connection between the community members.
In modern usage, Stepford has also extended to describe situations or relationships where one person dominates or controls another, often resulting in an imbalanced power dynamic or suppression of individuality. Overall, the term "Stepford" has evolved to encapsulate the concept of an idealized yet rigid and robotic existence, ultimately serving as a cautionary reference to the pitfalls of conformity and sacrificing personal identity.
Common Misspellings for STEPFORD
- atepford
- ztepford
- xtepford
- dtepford
- etepford
- wtepford
- srepford
- sfepford
- sgepford
- syepford
- s6epford
- s5epford
- stwpford
- stspford
- stdpford
- strpford
- st4pford
- st3pford
- steoford
- stelford
Etymology of STEPFORD
The word "Stepford" originates from the title of the 1972 novel "The Stepford Wives", written by American author Ira Levin. The story revolves around a fictional town called Stepford, Connecticut, where the women are unnaturally submissive and perfect. The term "Stepford" has since been associated with the concept of women conforming to traditional gender roles and societal expectations. As such, it has become a common cultural reference, representing a place or situation where people, particularly women, are expected to conform unquestioningly.
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