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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.
Andrea Dworkin
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote highlights how societal institutions condition boys to embrace and promote violence as a norm.

Andrea Dworkin's quote critiques the way boys are systematically indoctrinated into accepting violence through various cultural institutions such as sports, the military, and societal expectations around masculinity. This conditioning transforms them into advocates for violence, reflecting a broader commentary on the socialization of gender roles and the implications of a culture that valorizes aggression and dominance.

Themes

ViolenceMasculinitySocializationCultureAdvocacy

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about gender roles, this quote can be used to highlight the influence of societal norms on behavior.

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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.
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