Chauvinism (redirected from Chauvenism)

chauvinism (shō`vənĭzəm), word derived from the name of Nicolas Chauvin, a soldier of the First French Empire. Used first for a passionate admiration of Napoleon, it now expresses exaggerated and aggressive nationalism. As a social phenomenon, chauvinism is essentially modern, becoming marked in the era of acute national rivalries and imperialism beginning in the 19th cent. It has been encouraged by mass communication, originally by the cheap newspaper. Chauvinism exalts consciousness of nationality, spreads hatred of minorities and other nations, and is associated with militarism, imperialism, and racism. In the 1960s, the term "male chauvinist" appeared in the women's liberation movement; it is applied to males who refuse to regard females as equals.

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Chauvinism

See also Bigotry, Patriotism.

Chauvin, Nicolas

soldier who passionately admired Napoleon; whence, ultranationalism. [Fr. Hist.: NCE, 518]

Helmer, Torvald

treats wife Nora as an inferior being. [Nor. Lit.: A Doll’s House]

Jingo

legendary second-century empress of Japan, victorious invader of Korea and hence the conjectural eponym of jingoism. [Jap. Hist.: EB (1963) XIII, 69]

Jingoes

nickname of 19th-century English pro-war party. [Br. Hist.: EB (1963) XIII, 69]

male chauvinist pig

denigrating designation for a man who treats women as inferiors. [Am. Pop. Culture: Misc.]