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Women have complained, justly, about the behavior of…

“Women have complained, justly, about the behavior of “macho” men. But despite their he-man pretensions and their captivation by masculine heroes of sports, war, and the Old West, most men are now entirely accustomed to obeying and currying the favor of their bosses. Because of this, of course…” quote by Wendell Berry
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““Women have complained, justly, about the behavior of “macho” men. But despite their he-man pretensions and their captivation by masculine heroes of sports, war, and the Old West, most men are now entirely accustomed to obeying and currying the favor of their bosses. Because of this, of course, they hate their jobs — they mutter, “Thank God it’s Friday” and “Pretty good for Monday”— but they do as they are told. They are more compliant than most housewives have been. Their characters combine feudal submissiveness with modern helplessness. They have accepted almost without protest, and often with relief, their dispossession of any usable property and, with that, their loss of economic independence and their consequent subordination to bosses. They have submitted to the destruction of the household economy and thus of the household, to the loss of home employment and self-employment, to the disintegration of their families and communities, to the desecration and pillage of their country, and they have continued abjectly to believe, obey, and vote for the people who have most eagerly abetted this ruin and who have most profited from it. These men, moreover, are helpless to do anything for themselves or anyone else without money, and so for money they do whatever they are told.””

Wendell Berry

About This Quote

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

Men have become submissive to corporate authority, losing independence and community, leading to widespread dissatisfaction.

In simple terms: Men obey bosses, losing independence and community.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and resist oppressive structures.

Themes

gender roles economic oppression community decay

Mood

critical concerned

Type

political social

When to use this quote

  • workplace
  • political activism
  • community building

Key Concepts

feminism social critique

Questions to Reflect On

  • What can individuals do to regain agency?
  • How can communities rebuild economic independence?
A Different Perspective

It may generalize all men and overlook agency.

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