“We say that slavery has vanished from European civilization, but this is not true. Slavery still exists, but now it applies only to women and its name is prostitution.”
Women have always shaped the world, even when the world refused to acknowledge it. These quotes explore feminism, strength, identity, motherhood, ambition, and the ongoing work of making sure half the population gets a full seat at the table.
“Women speak because they wish to speak, whereas a man speaks only when driven to speak by something outside himself like, for instance, he can't find any clean socks.”
“We say that slavery has vanished from European civilization, but this is not true. Slavery still exists, but now it applies only to women and its name is prostitution.”
“The reason women don't play football is because 11 of them would never wear the same outfit in public.”
“Girls are infinitely more complicated than boys and women more than men. And there's no doubt about that. We just don't like to think about it. Certainly the men don't like to think about it.”
“Silence is an ornament for women.”
“When I am cast in a movie where I feel that the woman's part is more interesting, I usually start thinking about Spencer Tracy and Fred Astaire. They seem to be the most clear actors when working with women.”
“Feminists wish women to seem like men. They're not men.”
“I am a writer who happens to love women. I am not a lesbian who happens to write.”
“I think that women who know who they are are beautiful.”
“Most women are wise to the fact that lots of men love a cat-fight, and thus go out of their way not to give them one.”
“Women would rather be right than reasonable.”
“Women didn't want to watch other women on television because they were jealous of their husbands' diverted attention.”
“After all, what is your host's purpose in having a party? Surely not for you to enjoy yourself if that were their sole purpose, they'd have simply sent champagne and women over to your place by taxi.”
“I will say that the idea of a woman being deceptive came from that original discussion with critics and reporters about if woman could do that kind of thing. Evelyn, herself, grew out of the discussions about how capable women are of deceit and lying and manipulation.”
“When we create out of our experiences, as feminists of color, women of color, we have to develop those structures that will present and circulate our culture.”
“Women are not making it to the top. A hundred and ninety heads of state nine are women. Of all the people in parliament in the world, thirteen per cent are women. In the corporate sector, women at the top - C-level jobs, board seats - tops out at fifteen, sixteen per cent.”