Women have been trained to speak softly and carry a lipstick. Those days are over.
She (a woman politician) will be challenging a system that is still wedded to militarism and that saves billions of dollars a year by underpaying women and using them as a reserve cheap labor supply
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the ongoing challenges women face in a system that prioritizes militarism and economic exploitation over gender equality.
Bella Abzug's quote underscores the persistent struggles of women in politics as they confront a societal framework deeply rooted in militaristic values and economic inequalities. It emphasizes how the system not only perpetuates gender disparities by underpaying women but also relies on their labor in a utilitarian and exploitative manner. Abzug advocates for change by challenging the status quo that devalues women's contributions and perpetuates their marginalization in both the workforce and political spheres.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech advocating for women's rights in a political rally.
More from Bella Abzug
All quotes →They are a very extensive minority who have suffered discrimination and who have the same right to participation in the promise and fruits of society as every other individual.
When I first became a lawyer, only 2% of the bar was women. People would always think I was a secretary. In those days, professional women in the business world wore hats. So I started wearing hats.
Our struggle was political, ideological and economic, and we felt we couldn't make something of ourselves unless we bettered society. We saw the two together.
As women, we know that we must always find ways to change the process because the present institutions want to hold on to power and keep the status quo.
I prefer the word 'homemaker' because 'housewife' always implies that there may be a wife someplace else.
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Growing up, I never ever thought that I would or could or should be involved in politics. I didn't see anyone who looked like me in spaces of power.