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.
There's been the same kind of demonizing of the word 'feminism' as words like 'liberal,' 'affirmative action,' and so on.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights how the term 'feminism' faces prejudice similar to other socially charged terms, emphasizing the need for understanding and acceptance.
Gloria Steinem's quote draws attention to the societal tendency to demonize certain words, particularly 'feminism,' alongside other politically charged terms like 'liberal' and 'affirmative action.' This reflects a broader issue of misunderstanding and misrepresentation of concepts that advocate for equality and progress, suggesting that there is a need to reclaim these terms and promote informed discussions rather than perpetuating negative stereotypes.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a panel discussion on gender equality, this quote can be used to emphasize the importance of understanding feminism.
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?
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.
All those chemicals that create empathy only work when you are in a room together.
Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.
Obviously, there is much similarity among the challenges of transgender people and all women - from health care to harassment to discrimination in the workplace.
Similar quotes
Ideas by themselves cannot produce change of being; your effort must go in the right direction, and one must correspond to the other.
President Kennedy's election was such an enlargement. It expanded religious freedom to include the highest office in the land. President Kennedy's administration was such an enlargement. It advanced the day when the bars of intolerance against all minority groups will be lifted, not only for the presidency, but for all aspects of our national life.
So much of growing up is an unbearable waiting. A constant longing for another time. Another season.
Everyone needs a chance to evolve.
There shouldn't be any looting or anything like that. But we're seeing a lot of frustration, and nobody knows the answer. All of us are saying we need an answer, and what I'm saying is we need, all of us, a heart change so, as America, we can move forward.
What we know from lab studies is that it's never too late to break a habit. Habits are malleable throughout your entire life. But we also know that the best way to change a habit is to understand its structure - that once you tell people about the cue and the reward and you force them to recognize what those factors are in a behavior, it becomes much, much easier to change.