Instrumentalize

verb. To make use of something or someone as a tool or means to achieve a particular end, often diminishing the intrinsic value or significance of the subject in the process. This term is frequently used in social, political, and academic contexts to describe the act of using individuals, concepts, or objects primarily for the benefit or agenda of another party.

Instrumentalize meaning with examples

• During debates, politicians often instrumentalize personal stories to evoke emotions and sway public opinion, transforming genuine experiences into mere tools for persuasion.
• In academic research, it is crucial not to instrumentalize participants; reducing them to just data points can undermine ethical considerations and neglected their humanity.
• The organization sought to instrumentalize media coverage to advance their agenda, creating narratives that prioritized goals over the authentic stories of individuals affected by their initiatives.
• Critics argue that some NGOs instrumentalize community needs, focusing on their own funding and visibility rather than genuinely addressing the issues faced by those they claim to help.
• In the realm of public health, experts caution against the tendency to instrumentalize health statistics, as they can obscure the real human experiences behind the numbers.