If women are being oppressed in Egypt or children are being forced to join armies in the Congo, for example, it is not only acceptable but wonderful for Americans to be concerned, outraged, and active.
Stephen KinzerRead
The IWW [Industrial Workers of the World] has been accused of pushing women to the front. This is not true. Rather, the women have not been kept in back, and so they have naturally moved to the front.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Women have taken active roles in movements, rather than being forced into them.
In this quote, Elizabeth Gurley Flynn emphasizes that the involvement of women in the labor movement, specifically within the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), is a result of their own agency and determination rather than any external pressure or coercion. She highlights the natural progression of women stepping into leadership roles and being recognized for their contributions, countering the misconception that they are being pushed or forced into activism.
Themes
WomenActivismLabor MovementAgencyLeadership
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech at a women's rights rally to emphasize the importance of women's roles in movements.
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