Now listen to me. I will not walk on one-way streets any…
““Now listen to me. I will not walk on one-way streets any longer. Your wound is my wound, (though you don't know that mine is yours), and I do what I can, but the well will run dry. You will use us up. There are women whose first stretching across borders was into your lives. When they discover how you make use of their compassion, they will turn away heartsick, stricken, withering in the freshness of their hope. There are women who were leaders, who worked night and day, defeated not by foreign policy, but by the sexual politics of solidarity, bitter now, unable to work anywhere near you. How dare you speak of the New Woman! We are your richest resource besides your endurance, and you use us like rags to wrap around your pain.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The speaker condemns exploitation of women, linking personal pain to systemic oppression and calling out false solidarity.
In simple terms: Women are exploited and their compassion is used against them.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and resist the exploitation of marginalized groups.
Themes
exploitation
solidarity
gender politics
power dynamics
Mood
angry
defiant
hopeful
Type
political
activist
When to use this quote
- activist rallies
- policy debates
- community organizing
- educational workshops
Key Concepts
intersectionality
colonialism
feminist theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How does personal pain become political?
- What can be done to prevent exploitation of women?
A Different Perspective
The quote may be specific to a particular context, limiting broader applicability.