--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Any woman who has moved from the playing…" description: "\"“Any woman who has moved from the playing fields of male discourse into the realm where women are developing our own descriptions of the world knows th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/adrienne-rich-803_feminism_any-woman-who-has-moved-from-the-playing_2490449.jpg" --- # Any woman who has moved from the playing fields of male… ![“Any woman who has moved from the playing fields of male discourse into the realm where women are developing our own descriptions of the world knows the extraordinary sense of shedding, as it were, the encumbrance of someone else's baggage, of ceasing to translate.” quote by Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/adrienne-rich-803_feminism_any-woman-who-has-moved-from-the-playing_2490449.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/adrienne-rich-803_feminism_any-woman-who-has-moved-from-the-playing_2490449.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/adrienne-rich-803_feminism_any-woman-who-has-moved-from-the-playing_2490449.jpg) > ““Any woman who has moved from the playing fields of male discourse into the realm where women are developing our own descriptions of the world knows the extraordinary sense of shedding, as it were, the encumbrance of someone else's baggage, of ceasing to translate.”” [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She describes the liberation felt when women create their own narratives, shedding male-imposed frameworks. **In simple terms:** Women find freedom by forming their own stories. Key Takeaway Create and own narratives. Themes feminism identity self‑determination Mood empowering reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - writing workshops - academic discourse - personal reflection Key Concepts language gender politics creative expression Questions to Reflect On - What personal narratives have you reclaimed? - How does shedding external expectations affect your work? A Different Perspective May overlook the value of dialogue with existing traditions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Sense Shedding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-shedding-960209/) [Shedding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shedding/) [Shedding Encumbrance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shedding-encumbrance-960211/) [Woman Moved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woman-moved-960212/) [Women Developing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women-developing-960210/) ## Related quotes > [I want to tell women in developing countries that they are as powerful as their male counterparts, and they can play an equal role…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samina-baig/i-want-to-tell-women-in-developing-countries-that-they-are-as/) [Samina Baig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samina-baig/) > [Like in Africa, if somebody doesn't have fuel, they're still going and collecting firewood. 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She said, "You didn't borrow this." I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/a-beautiful-woman-moved-in-next-door-so-i-went-over-and-returned-a/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [“What a beautiful woman. She moved with grace, she was entirely feminine, and yet, she possessed incredible inner strength. She’s a survivor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-moran/what-a-beautiful-woman-she-moved-with-grace-she-was-entirely-feminine/) [Jan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-moran/) > [A woman moved is like a fountain troubled, Muddy, ill-seeming, thick, bereft of beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-woman-moved-is-like-a-fountain-troubled-muddy-ill-seeming-thick/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“I felt about him as I might feel about a friendly, dimwitted dog that had decided to move in with us. He could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-peters/i-felt-about-him-as-i-might-feel-about-a-friendly-dimwitted-dog-that/) [Elizabeth Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-peters/) > [I purge compulsively. I'm constantly shedding things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-sullivan/i-purge-compulsively-i-m-constantly-shedding-things/) [Andrew Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-sullivan/) > [We have to discard the past / and, as one builds / floor by floor, window by window, / and the building rises, /…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/we-have-to-discard-the-past-and-as-one-builds-floor-by-floor-window/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [I believe firmly in reconciliation among Vietnamese to avoid unnecessary shedding of the blood of Vietnamese.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duong-van-minh/i-believe-firmly-in-reconciliation-among-vietnamese-to-avoid/) [Duong Van Minh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duong-van-minh/) > [You know, in some ways, the celibacy tradition goes back to the tribe of Levi and, certainly, sacrifice and the notion of sacrifice. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-nichols/you-know-in-some-ways-the-celibacy-tradition-goes-back-to-the-tribe/) [Vincent Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-nichols/) > [I believe we are most beautiful when we are constantly shedding our old selves and moving into new light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suki-waterhouse/i-believe-we-are-most-beautiful-when-we-are-constantly-shedding-our/) [Suki Waterhouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suki-waterhouse/) > [“When I think of what I already lived through it seems to me I was shedding my bodies along the paths.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarice-lispector/when-i-think-of-what-i-already-lived-through-it-seems-to-me-i-was/) [Clarice Lispector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarice-lispector/) > [Your greatest job is shedding what you don't have to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/your-greatest-job-is-shedding-what-you-don-t-have-to-do/) [Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/) ## More by Adrienne Rich > [Only to have a grief equal to all these tears!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/only-to-have-a-grief-equal-to-all-these-tears/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [“Responsibility to yourself means refusing to let others do your thinking, talking, and naming for you...it means that you do not treat your body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/responsibility-to-yourself-means-refusing-to-let-others-do-your/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [The beauty of darkness is how it lets you see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/the-beauty-of-darkness-is-how-it-lets-you-see/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [What I search for continuously in my art is adequate language, language I hope can stand beyond any particular occasion. What I'm finding is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/what-i-search-for-continuously-in-my-art-is-adequate-language/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [“Well, she's long about her coming, who must be more merciless to herself than history. Her mind full to the wind, I see her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/well-she-s-long-about-her-coming-who-must-be-more-merciless-to/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [I think my work comes out of both an intense desire for connection and what it means to feel isolated. 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There was a whole political movement asking such questions and others I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/the-women-s-movement-appeared-at-a-very-crucial-moment-in-my-life/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [The word revolution itself has become not only a dead relic of Leftism, but a key to the deadendedness of male politics: the revolution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/the-word-revolution-itself-has-become-not-only-a-dead-relic-of/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [The decision to feed the world is the real decision. No revolution has chosen it. For that choice requires that women shall be free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/the-decision-to-feed-the-world-is-the-real-decision-no-revolution-has/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [The necessity of poetry has to be stated over and over, but only to those who have reason to fear its power, or those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/the-necessity-of-poetry-has-to-be-stated-over-and-over-but-only-to/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [I think many poets, including myself, write both for the voice and for the page. I certainly write for the person alone in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/i-think-many-poets-including-myself-write-both-for-the-voice-and-for/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [If I cling to circumstances I could feel not responsible. Only she who says she did not choose, is the loser in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/if-i-cling-to-circumstances-i-could-feel-not-responsible-only-she-who/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) [Explore all 364 Adrienne Rich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) ## More Feminism quotes > [“But benevolent patriarchy is still patriarchy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/but-benevolent-patriarchy-is-still-patriarchy/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [“This story is not at all an uncommon one in tech circles, including gaming. The popular notion is that women who get ahead must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bailey-poland/this-story-is-not-at-all-an-uncommon-one-in-tech-circles-including/) [Bailey Poland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bailey-poland/) > [Without meaning to sound anti-men, ghastly women are the closest you get to a male role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-burke/without-meaning-to-sound-anti-men-ghastly-women-are-the-closest-you/) [Kathy Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-burke/) > [If the women in the factories stopped work for twenty minutes, the Allies would lose the war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joffre/if-the-women-in-the-factories-stopped-work-for-twenty-minutes-the/) [Joseph Joffre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joffre/) > [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [“If attempting to make the world a civilized one, makes you a bad woman in the eyes of the dumb patriarchal society, then, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-attempting-to-make-the-world-a-civilized-one-makes-you-a-bad-woman/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“there was something of the women molded into the great, stalwart frame of Hollingsworth; nor was he ashamed of it; as men often are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/there-was-something-of-the-women-molded-into-the-great-stalwart-frame/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [Women rule the world. 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Anthony must be turning in her grave if she knew that millions of women who have the right to vote are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-m-kunin/susan-b-anthony-must-be-turning-in-her-grave-if-she-knew-that/) [Madeleine M. Kunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-m-kunin/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [Women know things that men will never know. We keep the best secrets. We tell the best stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/women-know-things-that-men-will-never-know-we-keep-the-best-secrets/) [Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/) > [“Women will be at least 50 percent of the communications community workforce … from executive suite to interns. Why? The “integrated” agency will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoram-wind/women-will-be-at-least-50-percent-of-the-communications-community/) [Yoram Wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoram-wind/) [Browse all 15,705 Feminism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Any woman who has moved from the playing fields of male discourse into the realm where women are developing our own descriptions of the world knows the extraordinary sense of shedding, as it were, the encumbrance of someone else's baggage, of ceasing to translate.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Adrienne Rich" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/any-woman-who-has-moved-from-the-playing-fields-of-male-discourse/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Feminism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/any-woman-who-has-moved-from-the-playing-fields-of-male-discourse/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/adrienne-rich-803_feminism_any-woman-who-has-moved-from-the-playing_2490449.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/adrienne-rich-803_feminism_any-woman-who-has-moved-from-the-playing_2490449.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/adrienne-rich-803_feminism_any-woman-who-has-moved-from-the-playing_2490449.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Any woman who has moved from the playing fields of male discourse into the realm where women are developing…” — Adrienne Rich", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Adrienne Rich", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Any woman who has moved from...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/any-woman-who-has-moved-from-the-playing-fields-of-male-discourse/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/any-woman-who-has-moved-from-the-playing-fields-of-male-discourse/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```