Gold and precious gems are, in many places, the one form of wealth a woman can use to protect and enhance herself within the elaborate structure of patriarchy.
Wangechi MutuRead
Being taught to despise your body is being taught to perhaps admire someone else's body more than yours - being taught that your body is good for certain things and not for others.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote critiques societal standards that create a negative perception of our own bodies while glorifying others'.
Wangechi Mutu's quote highlights the damaging impact of cultural teachings that lead individuals to dislike their own bodies. This attitude fosters a harmful comparison, where one might value the physical appearance of others more than their own, ultimately diminishing self-worth and body positivity. It challenges us to reflect on how societal views can influence our self-esteem and perceptions of beauty.
Themes
Body PositivitySelf-LoveComparisonSocietySelf-Worth
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about body image at a wellness seminar.
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All quotes →The ocean is the source of life. We all come from there. I think about these one-celled creatures, and I think about the planet. It is related to my obsession with biology, even if it's only a layperson's obsession. The way I visualise what's at the bottom of the ocean is very much to do with how I feel when I'm swimming in the sea.
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I've always loved the idea that you think you know what you're looking at from a distance, yet when you come up close, it gets intricate and nutty and obscene and provocative.
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