Merely external emancipation has made of the modern woman an artificial being. Now, woman is confronted with the necessity of emancipating herself from emancipation, if she really desires to be free.
—Emma Goldman (1869–1940) Lithuanian-American Anarchist, Feminist
Just because we’re sisters under the skin doesn’t mean we’ve got much in common.
—Angela Carter (1940–92) English Novelist
Women’s liberation, if it abolishes the patriarchal family, will abolish a necessary substructure of the authoritarian state, and once that withers away Marx will have come true willy-nilly, so let’s get on with it.
—Germaine Greer (b.1939) Australia Academic, Journalist, Scholar, Writer
As a result of the feminist revolution, “feminine” becomes an abusive epithet.
—Wyndham Lewis (1882–1957) English Novelist, Painter, Critic
Women are the only exploited group in history to have been idealized into powerlessness.
—Erica Jong (b.1942) American Novelist, Feminist
Feminism was recognized by the average man as a conflict in which it was impossible for a man, as a chivalrous gentleman … as a highly evolved citizen of a highly civilized community, to refuse the claim of this better half to self-determination.
—Wyndham Lewis (1882–1957) English Novelist, Painter, Critic
Whether women are better than men I cannot say – but I can say they are certainly no worse.
—Golda Meir (1898–1978) Israeli Head of State
Men now monopolize the upper levels… depriving women of their rightful share of opportunities for incompetence.
—Laurence J. Peter (1919–90) Canadian-born American Educator, Author
The fundamental impulse of the movement is neither masturbatory nor concretely lesbian—although it of course offers warm house to both these possibilities; it is an impulse to maidenhood—to that condition in which a woman might pretend to a false fear or loathing of the penis in order to escape from any responsibility for the pleasure and well-being of the man who possesses it.
—Midge Decter (b.1927) American Journalist, Activist, Author
We must not allow ourselves to be deflected by the feminists who are anxious to force us to regard the two sexes as completely equal in position and worth
—Sigmund Freud (1856–1939) Austrian Psychiatrist, Psychoanalytic
Ah, I fancy it is just the same with most of what you call your “emancipation.” You have read yourself into a number of new ideas and opinions. You have got a sort of smattering of recent discoveries in various fields—discoveries that seem to overthrow certain principles which have hitherto been held impregnable and unassailable. But all this has only been a matter of intellect, Miss West—superficial acquisition. It has not passed into your blood.
—Henrik Ibsen (1828–1906) Norwegian Playwright
The history of men’s opposition to women’s emancipation is more interesting perhaps than the story of that emancipation itself.
—Virginia Woolf (1882–1941) English Novelist
I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat.
—Rebecca West (1892–1983) English Author, Journalist, Literary Critic
Many beautiful women have been made happy by their own beauty, but no intelligent woman has ever been made happy by her own intelligence.
—Mignon McLaughlin (1913–83) American Journalist, Author
Some of us are becoming the men we wanted to marry.
—Gloria Steinem (b.1934) American Feminist, Journalist, Social Activist, Political Activist
I didn’t fight to get women out from behind vacuum cleaners to get them onto the board of Hoover.
—Germaine Greer (b.1939) Australia Academic, Journalist, Scholar, Writer
Male supremacy has kept woman down. It has not knocked her out.
—Clare Boothe Luce (1903–87) American Playwright, Diplomat, Journalist, Diplomat, Elected Rep
The sadness of the women’s movement is that they don’t allow the necessity of love. See, I don’t personally trust any revolution where love is not allowed.
—Maya Angelou (1928–2014) American Poet
Once made equal to man, woman becomes his superior.
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
The feminist anti-pornography movement, no less than the feminist movement of a century ago, encourages the assumption that male and female sexuality, and possibly morality, are as unlike as yin and yang.
—Barbara Ehrenreich (1941–2022) American Social Critic, Essayist
If the abstract rights of man will bear discussion and explanation, those of women, by a parity of reasoning, will not shrink from the same test: though a different opinion prevails in this country.
—Mary Wollstonecraft (1759–97) English Writer, Feminist
As it is our nature to be more moved by hope than fear, the example of one we see abundantly rewarded cheers and encourages us far more than the sight of many who have not been well treated disquiets us.
—Francesco Guicciardini (1483–1540) Italian Historian, Political leader
Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition.
—Timothy Leary (1920–96) American Psychologist, Author
The people I’m getting furious with are the women’s liberationists. They keep getting on their soapboxes proclaiming that women are brighter than men. That’s true, but it should be kept quiet or it ruins the whole racket.
—Anita Loos (1888–1981) American Actor, Novelist, Screenwriter
Women get more unhappy the more they try to liberate themselves.
—Brigitte Bardot (b.1934) French Film Star
When an individual is kept in a situation of inferiority, the fact is that he does become inferior.
—Simone de Beauvoir (1908–86) French Philosopher, Writer, Feminist
Women’s Liberation is just a lot of foolishness. It’s the men who are discriminated against. They can’t bear children. And no one’s likely to do anything about that.
—Golda Meir (1898–1978) Israeli Head of State
Everything in woman hath a solution. It is called pregnancy.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
Women’s liberation is the liberation of the feminine in the man and the masculine in the woman.
—Corita Kent (1918–86) American Artist, Graphic Artist, Educator
If I were a woman, I would never trust men who say they are feminists. Either they are acting out of guilt, trying to establish credentials, or they think they might be able to pick up more girls. If I were a woman, I would say, go away and have your first period. Then come back and tell me you are a feminist.
—R. David Thomas (1932–2002) American Entrepreneur, Philanthropist