Skip to content

When novelist Margaret Atwood asked women what they feared…

“When novelist Margaret Atwood asked women what they feared most from men, they said: 'We're afraid they'll kill us.' When men were asked the same question about women, they said: 'we're afraid they'll laugh at us.” quote by Naomi Wolf
Download Open image
““When novelist Margaret Atwood asked women what they feared most from men, they said: 'We're afraid they'll kill us.' When men were asked the same question about women, they said: 'we're afraid they'll laugh at us.””

Naomi Wolf

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Women fear lethal violence; men fear ridicule, highlighting gendered anxieties.

In simple terms: Women fear death, men fear mockery.

Key Takeaway

Address both safety and respect.

Themes

gender fear power dynamics

Mood

reflective critical

Type

analytical thought‑provoking

When to use this quote

  • workplace
  • public spaces
  • online interactions

Key Concepts

masculinity feminism social anxiety

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can societies reduce both fears?
  • What role does media play?
A Different Perspective

Oversimplifies complex social issues.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Naomi Wolf

Explore all 251 Naomi Wolf quotes

More Feared quotes

Browse all 411 Feared quotes