College feminists made fun of skyscrapers, saying they…
““College feminists made fun of skyscrapers, saying they were phallic symbols. They said the same thing about space rockets, even though, if you stopped to think about it, rockets were shaped the way they were not because of phallocentrism but because of aerodynamics. Would a vagina-shaped Apollo 11 have made it to the moon? Evolution had created the penis. It was a useful structure for getting certain things done. And if it worked for the pistils of flowers as well as the inseminatory organs of Homo sapiens, whose fault was that but Biology's? But no--anything large or grand in design, any long novel, big sculpture, or towering building, became, in the opinion of the "women" Mitchell knew at college, manifestations of male insecurity about the size of their penises.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote critiques how some feminists dismiss grand designs as symbols of male insecurity, overlooking functional reasons like aerodynamics and biology.
In simple terms: It challenges the idea that big things are just male ego symbols.
Key Takeaway
Question functional reasons behind design choices.
Themes
gender critique
design criticism
biology
aerodynamics
Mood
critical
analytical
skeptical
Type
commentary
critical essay
When to use this quote
- architectural analysis
- literary critique
- gender studies
- science communication
Key Concepts
feminist theory
symbolism
evolutionary biology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do functional needs shape design versus symbolic interpretation?
- Can symbolism be both functional and cultural?
A Different Perspective
The argument may overgeneralize feminist perspectives and ignore diverse viewpoints.