Male dominance in society always means that out of public sight, in the private, ahistorical world of men with women, men are sexually dominating women.
Andrea DworkinRead
The genius of any slave system is found in the dynamics which isolate slaves from each other, obscure the reality of a common condition, and make united rebellion against the oppressor inconceivable.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights how oppressive systems work to keep individuals isolated and unaware of their shared plight, preventing collective action against their oppressors.
Andrea Dworkin's quote addresses the insidious nature of slave systems, emphasizing how such systems create divisions among the subjugated individuals. By isolating them from one another and obscuring their shared experiences of oppression, those in power can maintain control more easily. This isolation not only prevents solidarity and collective resistance but also promotes a sense of helplessness among the oppressed, making rebellion seem impossible. The quote illustrates the broader implications of systemic oppression and the importance of awareness and unity in combating it.
Themes
OppressionUnityAwarenessRebellionIsolationFreedom
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about social justice, one might reference this quote to emphasize the importance of solidarity among marginalized groups.
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I have been asked, politely and not so politely, why I am myself. This is an accounting any woman will be called on to give if she asserts her will.
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We are born into a world in which sexual possibilities are narrowly circumscribed. . . . We are programmed by the culture as surely as rats are programmed to make the arduous way through the scientist's maze, and that programming operates on every level of choice and action.
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Institutionalised in sports, the military, acculturated sexuality, the history and mythology of heroism, violence is taught to boys until they becomes its advocates.
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In her heart she is a mourner for those who have not survived. In her soul she is a warrior for those who are now as she was then. In her life she is both celebrant and proof of women's capacity and will to survive, to become, to act, to change self and society. And each year she is stronger and there are more of her.
Andrea DworkinRead
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