Clinging to the past is the problem. Embracing change is the answer.
Gloria Steinem (b. 1934) American feminist, journalist, activist
“Doing Sixty,” Moving Beyond Words (1994)
Quotations by:
Steinem, Gloria
However sugarcoated and ambiguous, every form of authoritarianism must start with a belief in some group’s greater right to power, whether that right is justified by sex, race, class, religion or all four. However far it may expand, the progression inevitably rests on unequal power and airtight roles within the family.
Gloria Steinem (b. 1934) American feminist, journalist, activist
“If Hitler Were Alive, Whose Side Would He Be On?” Ms. (Oct-Nov 1980)
Reprinted in Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions (1983).
If men could menstruate … clearly, menstruation would become an enviable, boast-worthy, masculine event: Men would brag about how long and how much. … Sanitary supplies would be federally funded and free. Of course, some men would still pay for the prestige of such commercial brands as Paul Newman Tampons, Muhammed Ali’s Rope-a-Dope Pads, John Wayne Maxi Pads, and Joe Namath Jock Shields — “For Those Light Bachelor Days.”
Gloria Steinem (b. 1934) American feminist, journalist, activist
“If Men Could Menstruate,” Ms. (Oct 1978)
Happy or unhappy, families are all mysterious. We have only to imagine how differently we would be described — and will be, after our deaths — by each of the family members who believe they know us.
Gloria Steinem (b. 1934) American feminist, journalist, activist
“Ruth’s Song,” Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions (1984)
The act of acting morally is behaving as if everything we do matters.
Gloria Steinem (b. 1934) American feminist, journalist, activist
“The Birth of Ms.”, New York Magazine (19 Apr 1993)
(Source)
The first problem for all of us, men and women, is not to learn, but to unlearn. We are filled with the popular wisdom of several centuries just past, and we are terrified to give it up. Patriotism means obedience, age means wisdom, woman means submission, black means inferior: these are preconceptions embedded so deeply in our thinking that we honestly may not know that they are there.
Gloria Steinem (b. 1934) American feminist, journalist, activist
“The First Problem for All of Us, Men and Women, Is to Unlearn,” New York Times (26 Aug 1971)
Planning ahead is a measure of class. The rich and even the middle class plan for future generations, but the poor can plan ahead only a few weeks or days.
Gloria Steinem (b. 1934) American feminist, journalist, activist
“The Time Factor,” Ms. (Mar 1980)
Writing is the only thing that passes the three tests of metier. first, when I’m doing it, I don’t feel that I should be doing something else; second, it produces a sense of accomplishment and, once in a while, pride; and third, it’s frightening.
Gloria Steinem (b. 1934) American feminist, journalist, activist
“What’s in It for Me?”, Harper’s (Nov 1965)
Pornography is about dominance. Erotica is about mutuality.
Gloria Steinem (b. 1934) American feminist, journalist, activist
Erotica vs Pornography, Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions (1983)
The art of life isn’t controlling what happens, which is impossible; it’s using what happens.
Gloria Steinem (b. 1934) American feminist, journalist, activist
Moving Beyond Words, “Doing Sixty” (1994)
Oppression has no logic — just a self-fulfilling prophecy, justified by a self-perpetuating system.
Gloria Steinem (b. 1934) American feminist, journalist, activist
Moving Beyond Words, Part 2 (1994)
Violent means are unlikely to reach a peaceful end … the ends and means are a seamless web.
Gloria Steinem (b. 1934) American feminist, journalist, activist
Moving Beyond Words, Part 6 “Doing Sixty” (1994)
(Source)
Regarding the Vietnam anti-war movement.
Perhaps the worst thing about suffering is that it finally hardens the hearts of those around it.
Gloria Steinem (b. 1934) American feminist, journalist, activist
Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions, “Ruth’s Song” (1983)
Self-hatred leads to the need either to dominate or to be dominated.
Gloria Steinem (b. 1934) American feminist, journalist, activist
Revolution from Within: A Book of Self-Esteem, “A Personal Preference” (1992)
So whatever you want to do, just do it. Don’t worry about making a damn fool of yourself. Making a damn fool of yourself is absolutely essential. And you will have a great time.
Gloria Steinem (b. 1934) American feminist, journalist, activist
Commencement address, Tufts University (1987-05-17)
(Source)
When I was a student, we used to sit around discussing whether a particular end justified a particular means. On the assumption of everyone from Marx or Machiavelli, I thought that was the question. It took me twenty years to figure out that the means are the ends — and vice versa. Whatever means you use become an organic part of the ends you achieve.
Gloria Steinem (b. 1934) American feminist, journalist, activist
Commencement address, Tufts University (1987-05-17)
(Source)
I have yet to hear a man ask for advice on how to combine marriage and a career.
Gloria Steinem (b. 1934) American feminist, journalist, activist
Radio interview, BBC (2 Apr 1984)