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So true is it that unnatural generally means only uncustomary, and that everything which is usual appears natural. The subjection of women to men being a universal custom, any departure from it quite naturally appears unnatural. — John Stuart Mill · 1869I asked a Burmese why women, after centuries of following their men, now walk ahead. He said there were many unexploded land mines since the war. — Robert Mueller · 1957Woman's degradation is in man's idea of his sexual rights. Our religion, laws, customers, are all founded on the belief that woman was made for man. — Elizabeth Cady Stanton · 1860Women have been called queens a long time, but the kingdom given them isn't worth ruling. — Louisa May Alcott · 1869I don't know that women are always rewarded for being charming. I think they are usually punished for it! — Oscar Wilde · 1895Your great glory is not to be inferior to what God has made you, and the greatest glory of a woman is to be least talked about by men, whether they are praising you or criticizing you. — Pericles · 430 BCAll 39 quotes →
Men and women12 quotes
Woman's degradation is in man's idea of his sexual rights. Our religion, laws, customers, are all founded on the belief that woman was made for man. — Elizabeth Cady Stanton · 1860In the new Code of Laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make I desire you would Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favourable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could. — Abigail Adams · 1776The labour of women in the house, certainly enables men to produce more wealth than they otherwise could; and in this way women are economic factors in society. But so are horses. — Charlotte Perkins Gilman · 1898The worker is the slave of capitalist society, the female worker is the slave of that slave. — James Connolly · 1915The history of men's opposition to women's emancipation is more interesting perhaps than the story of that emancipation itself. — Virginia Woolf · 1929If all men are born free, how is it that all women are born slaves? — Mary Astell · 1706All 12 quotes →
Woman's degradation is in man's idea of his sexual rights. Our religion, laws, customers, are all founded on the belief that woman was made for man. — Elizabeth Cady Stanton · 1860Women have been called queens a long time, but the kingdom given them isn't worth ruling. — Louisa May Alcott · 1869The principle which regulates the existing social relations between the two sexes—the legal subordination of one sex to the other—is wrong in itself, and now one of the chief hindrances to human improvement. — John Stuart Mill · 1869It is humbling to reflect, that in those countries in which the fondness for the mere persons of women is carried to the highest excess, they are slaves; and that their moral and intellectual degradation increases in direct proportion to the adoration which is paid to mere external charms. — Hannah More · 1799The history of mankind is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations on the part of man toward woman, having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over her. — Elizabeth Cady Stanton · 1848In a world ordered by sexual imbalance, pleasure in looking has been split between active/male and passive/female. The determining male gaze projects its fantasy onto the female figure, which is styled accordingly. — Laura Mulvey · 1975All 7 quotes →
Patriarchy7 quotes
Your great glory is not to be inferior to what God has made you, and the greatest glory of a woman is to be least talked about by men, whether they are praising you or criticizing you. — Pericles · 430 BCThe principle which regulates the existing social relations between the two sexes—the legal subordination of one sex to the other—is wrong in itself, and now one of the chief hindrances to human improvement. — John Stuart Mill · 1869If God is male, then the male is God. — Mary Daly · 1973It is humbling to reflect, that in those countries in which the fondness for the mere persons of women is carried to the highest excess, they are slaves; and that their moral and intellectual degradation increases in direct proportion to the adoration which is paid to mere external charms. — Hannah More · 1799Men may have had their own very good reasons for bringing women up in servitude, but the soul of a servant is not an attractive thing, and one of the most infuriating aspects of women's constricted upbringing is that it has made them less attractive, even in the eyes of their constrictors, than they should have been. Man has twisted and pruned women out of all recognition and then not liked the results. — Janet Radcliffe Richards · 1980In a world ordered by sexual imbalance, pleasure in looking has been split between active/male and passive/female. The determining male gaze projects its fantasy onto the female figure, which is styled accordingly. — Laura Mulvey · 1975All 7 quotes →
Women6 quotes
What a misfortune it is to be born a woman!... Why seek for knowledge, which can prove only that our wretchedness is irremediable? If a ray of light break in upon us, it is but to make darkness more visible; to show us the narrow limits, the Gothic structure, the impenetrable barriers of our prison. — Maria Edgeworth · 1806Wife and Servant are the same, But only differ in the name. — Mary Chudleigh · 1703It would be an endless task to trace the variety of meannesses, cares, and sorrows, into which women are plunged by the prevailing opinion, that they were created rather to feel than reason. — Mary Wollstonecraft · 1792A woman can hardly ever choose...she is dependent on what happens to her. She must take meaner things, because only meaner things are within her reach. — George Eliot · 1866Whatever they may be in public life, whatever their relationships with men, in their relationships with women, all men are rapists, and that's all they are. They rape us with their eyes, their laws, and their codes. — Marilyn French · 1977Righteous women are therefore obedient, guarding the secret for God's guarding. And those you fear may be rebellious, admonish; banish them to their couches, and beat them. — Muhammad · 632
The history of men's opposition to women's emancipation is more interesting perhaps than the story of that emancipation itself. — Virginia Woolf · 1929If men could get pregnant, abortion would be a sacrament. — Florynce Kennedy · 1973I was told that desire for learning in women was against the will of God. — Mary Butts · 1937
Religion is an all-important matter in a public school for girls. Whatever people say, it is the mother's safeguard, and the husband's. What we ask of education is not that girls should think, but that they should believe. — Napoleon Bonaparte · 1807With the present system of education for girls any genius who happens to be born a woman can make no contribution to public happiness. — Stendhal · 1822
Rape2 quotes
Pornography is the theory, and rape the practice. — Robin Morgan · 1977Whatever they may be in public life, whatever their relationships with men, in their relationships with women, all men are rapists, and that's all they are. They rape us with their eyes, their laws, and their codes. — Marilyn French · 1977
Abortion1 quote
If men could get pregnant, abortion would be a sacrament. — Florynce Kennedy · 1973
The worker is the slave of capitalist society, the female worker is the slave of that slave. — James Connolly · 1915
Capitalism1 quote
The worker is the slave of capitalist society, the female worker is the slave of that slave. — James Connolly · 1915
Charm1 quote
I don't know that women are always rewarded for being charming. I think they are usually punished for it! — Oscar Wilde · 1895
So true is it that unnatural generally means only uncustomary, and that everything which is usual appears natural. The subjection of women to men being a universal custom, any departure from it quite naturally appears unnatural. — John Stuart Mill · 1869
Education1 quote
I was told that desire for learning in women was against the will of God. — Mary Butts · 1937
It's not right for a woman to read. Soon she starts getting ideas and thinking. — Gaston · 1991
In the new Code of Laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make I desire you would Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favourable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could. — Abigail Adams · 1776
Feminism1 quote
In the new Code of Laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make I desire you would Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favourable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could. — Abigail Adams · 1776
Pornography is the theory, and rape the practice. — Robin Morgan · 1977
Religion is an all-important matter in a public school for girls. Whatever people say, it is the mother's safeguard, and the husband's. What we ask of education is not that girls should think, but that they should believe. — Napoleon Bonaparte · 1807
With the present system of education for girls any genius who happens to be born a woman can make no contribution to public happiness. — Stendhal · 1822
Of my two "handicaps," being female put many more obstacles in my path than being black. — Shirley Chisholm · 1970
Marriage1 quote
Wife and Servant are the same, But only differ in the name. — Mary Chudleigh · 1703
Misogyny1 quote
I don't know that women are always rewarded for being charming. I think they are usually punished for it! — Oscar Wilde · 1895
If God is male, then the male is God. — Mary Daly · 1973
What is now called the nature of women is an eminently artificial thing—the result of forced repression in some directions, unnatural stimulation in others. — John Stuart Mill · 1869
Patriotism1 quote
Patriotism in the female Sex is the most disinterested of all virtues. Excluded from honours and from offices, we cannot attach ourselves to the State or Goverment from having held a place of Eminence...Yet all History and every age exhibit Instances of patriotick virtue in the female Sex; which considering our situation equals the most Heroick of yours. — Abigail Adams · 1782
Pornography is the theory, and rape the practice. — Robin Morgan · 1977
Religion1 quote
You may go over the world and you will find that every form of religion that has breathed upon this earth, has degraded woman. There is not one that has not always made her subject to man. — Elizabeth Cady Stanton · 1885
Tyranny1 quote
In the new Code of Laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make I desire you would Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favourable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could. — Abigail Adams · 1776
In a world ordered by sexual imbalance, pleasure in looking has been split between active/male and passive/female. The determining male gaze projects its fantasy onto the female figure, which is styled accordingly. — Laura Mulvey · 1975