Economic system Quote by Andrea Dworkin
““Feminists know that if women are paid equal wages for equal work, women will gain sexual as well as economic independence. But feminists have refused to face the fact that in a woman-hating social system, women will never be paid equal wages. Men in all their institutions of power are sustained by the sex labor and sexual subordination of women. The sex labor of women must be maintained; and systematic low wages for sex-neutral work effectively force women to sell sex to survive. The economic system that pays women lower wages than it pays men actually punishes women for working outside marriage or prostitution, since women work hard for low wages and still must sell sex. The economic system that punishes women for working outside the bedroom by paying low wages contributes significantly to women's perception that the sexual serving of men is a necessary part of any woman's life: or how else could she live? Feminists appear to think that equal pay for equal work is a simple reform, whereas it no reform at all; it is revolution. Feminists have refused to face the fact that equal pay for equal work is impossible as long as men rule women, and right-wing women have refused to forget it.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Feminist critique on wage inequality, date unknown
The passage claims that equal pay is unattainable within a patriarchal system that relies on women's sexual labor; true equality requires systemic revolution, not simple reform.
In simple terms: Equal pay is impossible without dismantling patriarchy.
Challenge systemic gender oppression for true equality.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy advocacy
- labor negotiations
- education campaigns
- activism
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What concrete steps can dismantle gendered labor structures?
- How can society value care work equally?
Achieving equal pay may require broader cultural change beyond legislation.