quotes Flashcards
Simone De Beauvoir - sex or gender
- One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.” This quote highlights Beauvoir’s idea that gender is not determined by biology, but rather is a social construct that is imposed on individuals. She argues that women are not born inherently different from men but are socialized into gender roles and expectations that limit their potential.
Simone de Beauvoir - emancipation
“The emancipation of women is the common task of men and women alike.” This quote emphasizes Beauvoir’s belief that gender equality is a universal goal, and that both men and women have a responsibility to work towards it. She argues that men must also challenge patriarchal norms and work to create a more equal society.
simone - representation
“Representation of the world, like the world itself, is the work of men; they describe it from their own point of view, which they confuse with the absolute truth”. de Beauvoir critiques the notion that the male perspective is objective and universal, while women’s experiences are considered secondary or subjective. She argues that men have constructed a world that reflects their interests and values, and that women must challenge this construction in order to achieve equality
simone - male as the norm
Man is defined as a human being and a woman as a female - whenever she behaves as a human being she is said to imitate the male.” This quote emphasizes the idea that society has traditionally viewed men as the norm and women as the “other.” Women are expected to conform to societal expectations of femininity, which limits their opportunities to express themselves and participate fully in society.
millet - p is p
The personal is political.” This quote became a key slogan of the feminist movement and emphasizes the idea that personal experiences and relationships are shaped by larger political and social structures. Millet argues that the power dynamics of patriarchy extend beyond formal political institutions and into all aspects of society, including personal relationships and the private sphere
millet - sex or gender
A woman has no essential nature, she is not a natural woman, but a female. The woman is a result of the socialisation of a biological condition.” Millet challenges the idea that women are inherently different from men and that these differences justify their subordination. She argues that gender is a social construct that is imposed on individuals based on their biological sex, and that women should be judged based on their individual abilities and choices, rather than their gender.
millet - oppression
The sexual class system, unlike other systems of oppression, is visible, accessible, and sometimes even invitingly present in the same room.” Millet highlights the ways in which gender inequality is perpetuated in everyday social interactions and cultural practices. She argues that the sexual class system is pervasive and insidious, and that it operates through the subtle mechanisms of power and control, as well as through more explicit forms of violence and exploitation.
millet - patriarchy
‘Family is Patriarchy’s Key institution’. - Millett critiques the traditional family structure as a means of maintaining patriarchal power structures, arguing that it reinforces gender roles and perpetuates inequality. She argues that the state has a responsibility to promote alternative forms of family and relationship structures that allow for greater equality.
‘‘Patriarchy, reformed or unreformed, is patriarchy still”.
rowbotham - family
The idea that the family can provide a haven in a heartless world has been the hallmark of sentimental conservatism.” This quote reflects Rowbotham’s critique of traditional family structures, which she sees as oppressive and limiting for women. She argues that the idea of the family as a refuge from social and economic pressures is a conservative myth that serves to uphold patriarchal norms
rowbotham - human beings
We are not ghosts in a machine, we are not ciphers, not disembodied units, not atoms; we are human beings, with souls, hearts, and consciousness.” This quote emphasizes Rowbotham’s humanistic approach to feminism. She sees women as fully realized human beings, rather than simply bodies or objects to be used by men
rowbotham - patriarchy
It is women who have to make the adjustments in a world of male design.” Rowbotham argues that the patriarchy is a social system that has been designed and constructed by men, and that women are forced to adapt to this system in order to survive. She suggests that true gender equality can only be achieved through the collective efforts of women to challenge and transform the existing social structures
rowbotham - oppression
“If one is going to study oppression, one must study all forms of oppression. Rowbotham emphasizes the need for an intersectional analysis of gender oppression that takes into account the various ways in which race, class, sexuality, and other factors intersect with gender to produce unique forms of inequality and marginalization.
rowbotham - revolution
‘‘It is only when women start to organise in large numbers that we become a political force, and begin to move towards the possibility of a truly democratic society in which every human being can be brave, responsible, thinking and diligent in the struggle to live at once freely and unselfishly. Such a democracy would be communism”.
Revolution withing revolution
bell hooks - feminist movement
Feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression.” This quote reflects Hooks’ broad definition of feminism, which includes not only the struggle for gender equality, but also the fight against racism, colonialism, and other forms of oppression. She argues that a truly intersectional feminism must address the interconnectedness of all forms of oppression. the goal of feminism is to eliminate gender-based oppression in all its forms. This quote highlights the idea that feminism is not just about advancing the interests of women, but about creating a more just and equitable society for all. Feminism is a mutlifacated movement
hooks - race and gender
Race and sex are categories that describe the politics of power, not the immutable characteristics of human beings.”hooks challenges the idea that race and gender are fixed and inherent categories that determine an individual’s identity and status in society. She argues that these categories are socially constructed and enforced through systems of power
