I have me brave women who are exploring the outer edge of human possibility, with no history to guide them, and with a courage to make themselves vulnerable that I find moving beyond words.
Gloria SteinemRead
Superwoman is the adversary of the women's movement.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The concept of 'Superwoman' can undermine the women's movement by setting unrealistic expectations for women.
Gloria Steinem's quote critiques the idea of the 'Superwoman' as a figure who seemingly balances all aspects of life perfectly. This unrealistic standard can create pressure on women to meet impossible expectations, potentially detracting from the collective goals of the women's movement, which seeks equality and authenticity rather than perfection.
Themes
SuperwomanWomen'S MovementFeminismExpectationsEquality
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a feminist rally to discuss the pressures placed on women in modern society.
More from Gloria Steinem
All quotes βIf women are supposed to be less rational and more emotional at the beginning of our menstrual cycle when the female hormone is at its lowest level, then why isn't it logical to say that, in those few days, women behave the most like the way men behave all month long?
Gloria SteinemRead
Age brings a freedom. When you're young, you're much more subject to the idea of what feminine is or how you should look or how you should behave.
Gloria SteinemRead
All those chemicals that create empathy only work when you are in a room together.
Gloria SteinemRead
Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.
Gloria SteinemRead
Obviously, there is much similarity among the challenges of transgender people and all women - from health care to harassment to discrimination in the workplace.
Gloria SteinemRead
Similar quotes
I do not subscribe to a feminism that demands perfection or super heroic nobility of women. But I do insist that putting women at the service of patriarchy is no victory for us.
Mona EltahawyRead
Feminism's agenda is basic: it asks that women not be forced to "choose" between public justice and private happiness. It asks that women be free to define themselves-instead of having their identity defined for them, time and again, by their culture and their men.
Susan FaludiRead
When women can support themselves, have entry to all the trades and professions, with a house of their own over their heads and a bank account, they will own their bodies and be dictators in the social realm.
Elizabeth Cady StantonRead
Womanist is to feminist as purple is to lavender.
Alice WalkerRead
I think the world is ambivalent about feminism. So I can't blame college students. I think they're reflecting the greater culture's attitude toward feminism. So what I can do is, in ways that are appropriate, advocate for feminism and help the students learn what feminism is about.
Roxane GayRead
I think the history of western feminism is one that is fraught with racism, and I think it's important to acknowledge that and, at the same time, to say that feminism is not the western invention, that my great-grandmother in what is now south-western Nigeria is feminist.
Chimamanda Ngozi AdichieRead