---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ... while our men seem thoroughly abreast…"
description: "\"... while our men seem thoroughly abreast of the times on almost every other subject, when they strike the woman question they drop back into sixteenth..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22d/anna-julia-cooper-14164_brows_while-our-men-seem-thoroughly-abreast-of_2279492.png"
---

#  ... while our men seem thoroughly abreast of the times on…

![“... while our men seem thoroughly abreast of the times on almost every other subject, when they strike the woman question they drop back into sixteenth century logic. They leave nothing to be desired generally in regard to gallantry and chivalry, but they actually do not seem sometimes to have…” quote by Anna Julia Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22d/anna-julia-cooper-14164_brows_while-our-men-seem-thoroughly-abreast-of_2279492.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22d/anna-julia-cooper-14164_brows_while-our-men-seem-thoroughly-abreast-of_2279492.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22d/anna-julia-cooper-14164_brows_while-our-men-seem-thoroughly-abreast-of_2279492.png)

> “... while our men seem thoroughly abreast of the times on almost every other subject, when they strike the woman question they drop back into sixteenth century logic. They leave nothing to be desired generally in regard to gallantry and chivalry, but they actually do not seem sometimes to have outgrown that old contemporary of chivalry--the idea that women may stand on pedestals or live in doll houses,... but they must not furrow their brows with thought or attempt to help men tug at the great questions of the world.”

[Anna Julia Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-julia-cooper/)

## About This Quote

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

Men cling to outdated, patriarchal views, limiting women's intellectual participation despite progress in other areas.

**In simple terms:** Men still hold old sexist ideas.

Key Takeaway

Challenge gender stereotypes.

Themes

gender equality education patriarchy social progress

Mood

critical reflective

Type

analytical advocacy

When to use this quote

- academic discourse
- policy making
- public debate

Key Concepts

feminist theory cultural critique historical analysis

Questions to Reflect On

- How can societies move beyond entrenched sexism?
- What role does education play in reshaping gender norms?

A Different Perspective

Changing deep‑seated attitudes requires systemic effort.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Brows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brows/) [Century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/century/) [Chivalry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chivalry/) [Chivalry Actually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chivalry-actually-5314457/) [Chivalry Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chivalry-idea-5198539/) [Contemporary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemporary/) [Contemporary Chivalry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemporary-chivalry-5314456/) [Dolls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dolls/) [Gallantry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gallantry/) [Gallantry Chivalry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gallantry-chivalry-5314458/) [Help me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help-me/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Logic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/logic/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Pedestal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pedestal/) [Regard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regard/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Strikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strikes/) [Subjects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjects/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [“Fine!" he relented, giving her a dirty look. "But only if you stay in front." She rolled her eyes. "My, what chivalry." "To hell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-damico/fine-he-relented-giving-her-a-dirty-look-but-only-if-you-stay-in/)

[Gina Damico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-damico/)

> [“The gallantry was the women's. ... The woman's chivalry in such circumstances is obviously expected.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryn-hammond/the-gallantry-was-the-women-s-the-woman-s-chivalry-in-such/)

[Bryn Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryn-hammond/)

> [“Politeness is the first thing people lose once they get the power.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/politeness-is-the-first-thing-people-lose-once-they-get-the-power/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [Respect for woman, the much lauded chivalry of the Middle Ages, meant what I fear it still means to some men in our own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-julia-cooper/respect-for-woman-the-much-lauded-chivalry-of-the-middle-ages-meant/)

[Anna Julia Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-julia-cooper/)

> [A high station in life is earned by the gallantry with which appalling experiences are survived with grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/a-high-station-in-life-is-earned-by-the-gallantry-with-which/)

[Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/)

> [The gallantry and aggressive fighting spirit of the Russian soldiers command the American army's admiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-marshall/the-gallantry-and-aggressive-fighting-spirit-of-the-russian-soldiers/)

[George C. Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-marshall/)

> [Enlightenment is like witnessing the brilliant sun for the first time in the morning. It is like seeing the beautiful flowers that grow in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/enlightenment-is-like-witnessing-the-brilliant-sun-for-the-first-time/)

[Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/)

> [The gallantry of his grief did put me into a towering passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-gallantry-of-his-grief-did-put-me-into-a-towering-passion/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [The consequence of a very free commerce between the sexes, and of their living much together, will often terminate in intrigues and gallantry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/the-consequence-of-a-very-free-commerce-between-the-sexes-and-of/)

[David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/)

> [What shall I say of the gallantry with which these Marines have fought! Of the slopes of Hill 142; of the Mares Farm; of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harbord/what-shall-i-say-of-the-gallantry-with-which-these-marines-have/)

[James Harbord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harbord/)

> [There was a land of Cavaliers and Cotton Fields called the Old South. Here in this pretty world, Gallantry took its last bow. Here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hecht/there-was-a-land-of-cavaliers-and-cotton-fields-called-the-old-south/)

[Ben Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hecht/)

> [“I don't like this war. I don't like the cold-blooded scheming at the beginning and the carnage at the end and the grumbling and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-dunnett/i-don-t-like-this-war-i-don-t-like-the-cold-blooded-scheming-at-the/)

[Dorothy Dunnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-dunnett/)

> [You must survive with grace. You must do so gallantly. How archaic these terms seem to us in our modern world. There is little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cooper/you-must-survive-with-grace-you-must-do-so-gallantly-how-archaic/)

[Chris Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cooper/)

> [Gallantry thrives most in the atmosphere of the court.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-curchod/gallantry-thrives-most-in-the-atmosphere-of-the-court/)

[Suzanne Curchod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-curchod/)

> [ René of Anjou \[(1409-80)\] painted a picture of his mistress's corpse as he found it eaten by worms on having it \[her tomb\] openedon… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/ren-of-anjou-1409-80-painted-a-picture-of-his-mistress-s-corpse-as-he/)

[Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/)

## More by Anna Julia Cooper

> [... the majority of colored men do not yet think it worth while that women aspire to higher education… The three R's, a littlemusic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-julia-cooper/the-majority-of-colored-men-do-not-yet-think-it-worth-while-that/)

[Anna Julia Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-julia-cooper/)

> [One needs occasionally to stand aside from the hum and rush of human interests and passions to hear the voices of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-julia-cooper/one-needs-occasionally-to-stand-aside-from-the-hum-and-rush-of-human/)

[Anna Julia Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-julia-cooper/)

> [ Teach \[our girls\] that there is a race with special needs which they and only they can help; that the world needs and is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-julia-cooper/teach-our-girls-that-there-is-a-race-with-special-needs-which-they/)

[Anna Julia Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-julia-cooper/)

> [Life must be something more than dilettante speculation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-julia-cooper/life-must-be-something-more-than-dilettante-speculation/)

[Anna Julia Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-julia-cooper/)

> [... religion (ought to be if it isn't) a great deal more than mere gratification of the instinct for worship linked with the straight-teaching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-julia-cooper/religion-ought-to-be-if-it-isn-t-a-great-deal-more-than-mere/)

[Anna Julia Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-julia-cooper/)

> [A race cannot be purified from without.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-julia-cooper/a-race-cannot-be-purified-from-without/)

[Anna Julia Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-julia-cooper/)

> [Respect for woman, the much lauded chivalry of the Middle Ages, meant what I fear it still means to some men in our own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-julia-cooper/respect-for-woman-the-much-lauded-chivalry-of-the-middle-ages-meant/)

[Anna Julia Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-julia-cooper/)

> [Peace produced by suppression is neither natural nor desirable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-julia-cooper/peace-produced-by-suppression-is-neither-natural-nor-desirable/)

[Anna Julia Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-julia-cooper/)

> [... woman's cause is the cause of the weak; and when all the weak shall have received their due consideration, then woman will have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-julia-cooper/woman-s-cause-is-the-cause-of-the-weak-and-when-all-the-weak-shall/)

[Anna Julia Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-julia-cooper/)

> [ ... \[a\] girl one day flared out and told the principal "the only mission opening before a girl in his school was to marry… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-julia-cooper/a-girl-one-day-flared-out-and-told-the-principal-the-only-mission/)

[Anna Julia Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-julia-cooper/)

> [All prejudices, whether of race, sect or sex, class pride and caste distinctions are the belittling inheritance and badge of snobs and prigs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-julia-cooper/all-prejudices-whether-of-race-sect-or-sex-class-pride-and-caste/)

[Anna Julia Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-julia-cooper/)

> [The old, subjective, stagnant, indolent and wretched life for woman has gone. She has as many resources as men, as many activities beckon her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-julia-cooper/the-old-subjective-stagnant-indolent-and-wretched-life-for-woman-has/)

[Anna Julia Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-julia-cooper/)

> [Each is under the most sacred obligation not to squander the material committed to him, not to sap his strength in folly and vice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-julia-cooper/each-is-under-the-most-sacred-obligation-not-to-squander-the-material/)

[Anna Julia Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-julia-cooper/)

> [Bullies are always cowards at heart and may be credited with a pretty safe instinct in scenting their prey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-julia-cooper/bullies-are-always-cowards-at-heart-and-may-be-credited-with-a-pretty/)

[Anna Julia Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-julia-cooper/)

> [tis woman's strongest vindication for speaking that the world needs to hear her voice. It would be subversive of every human interest that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-julia-cooper/tis-woman-s-strongest-vindication-for-speaking-that-the-world-needs/)

[Anna Julia Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-julia-cooper/)

[Explore all 47 Anna Julia Cooper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-julia-cooper/)

## More Brows quotes

> [If wrinkles must be written on our brows, let them not be written upon the heart. The spirit should never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/if-wrinkles-must-be-written-on-our-brows-let-them-not-be-written-upon/)

[James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/)

> [Strong brows is what I have, and I embrace them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-connelly/strong-brows-is-what-i-have-and-i-embrace-them/)

[Jennifer Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-connelly/)

> [Keep your brow game on point and always pack a lip gloss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tinashe/keep-your-brow-game-on-point-and-always-pack-a-lip-gloss/)

[Tinashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tinashe/)

> [There is no greater injustice than to wring your profits from the sweat of another man's brow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/there-is-no-greater-injustice-than-to-wring-your-profits-from-the/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [I've been blessed with good eyebrows, and I've worked very hard for them. Get a good brow pencil, fill them in a bit, make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zendaya/i-ve-been-blessed-with-good-eyebrows-and-i-ve-worked-very-hard-for/)

[Zendaya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zendaya/)

> [If our inward griefs were written on our brows, how many who are envied now would be pitied. It would seem that they had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pietro-metastasio/if-our-inward-griefs-were-written-on-our-brows-how-many-who-are/)

[Pietro Metastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pietro-metastasio/)

> [Some people criticize me for using sources that are a bit low brow (this quote is from 'Gladiator') but you know what? 'I'm just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/some-people-criticize-me-for-using-sources-that-are-a-bit-low-brow/)

[Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/)

> [She stretched out her hand, saying, “Vernon! My dear, what a delightful surprise!” “What’s surprising about it?” he enquired, lifting his black brows. “Didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/she-stretched-out-her-hand-saying-vernon-my-dear-what-a-delightful/)

[Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/)

> [When I know I have a huge shoot, I’ll just go into the sauna and steam out my face. Product-wise, I don’t really do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanel-iman/when-i-know-i-have-a-huge-shoot-i-ll-just-go-into-the-sauna-and-steam/)

[Chanel Iman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanel-iman/)

> [Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/angels-are-bright-still-though-the-brightest-fell/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [I ain't the captain of the yacht, but I'm on the boat; I ain't acting what I'm not, knowing that I don't. You niggaz…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beanie-sigel/i-ain-t-the-captain-of-the-yacht-but-i-m-on-the-boat-i-ain-t-acting/)

[Beanie Sigel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beanie-sigel/)

> [Senseless is the breast and cold Which relenting love would fold; Bloodless are the veins and chill Which the pulse of pain did fill;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/senseless-is-the-breast-and-cold-which-relenting-love-would-fold/)

[Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/)

> [When book and reader's furrowed brow meet, it isn't always the book that's stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-gass/when-book-and-reader-s-furrowed-brow-meet-it-isn-t-always-the-book/)

[William H. Gass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-gass/)

> [Certain media attracts more pulpy or low-brow things, especially when they're young. Finding the best story, in any particular medium, is going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stoll/certain-media-attracts-more-pulpy-or-low-brow-things-especially-when/)

[Corey Stoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stoll/)

> [I have never done anything to my brows, though sometimes I tweeze the intersection of the left and right brow, which is either a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leandra-medine/i-have-never-done-anything-to-my-brows-though-sometimes-i-tweeze-the/)

[Leandra Medine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leandra-medine/)

[Browse all 336 Brows quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brows/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "... while our men seem thoroughly abreast of the times on almost every other subject, when they strike the woman question they drop back into sixteenth century logic. They leave nothing to be desired generally in regard to gallantry and chivalry, but they actually do not seem sometimes to have outgrown that old contemporary of chivalry--the idea that women may stand on pedestals or live in doll houses,... but they must not furrow their brows with thought or attempt to help men tug at the great questions of the world.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Anna Julia Cooper"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-julia-cooper/while-our-men-seem-thoroughly-abreast-of-the-times-on-almost-every/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Brows"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-julia-cooper/while-our-men-seem-thoroughly-abreast-of-the-times-on-almost-every/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22d/anna-julia-cooper-14164_brows_while-our-men-seem-thoroughly-abreast-of_2279492.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22d/anna-julia-cooper-14164_brows_while-our-men-seem-thoroughly-abreast-of_2279492.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22d/anna-julia-cooper-14164_brows_while-our-men-seem-thoroughly-abreast-of_2279492.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“... while our men seem thoroughly abreast of the times on almost every other subject, when they strike the…” — Anna Julia Cooper",
                "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": "Anna Julia Cooper",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-julia-cooper/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "... while our men seem thoroughly...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-julia-cooper/while-our-men-seem-thoroughly-abreast-of-the-times-on-almost-every/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-julia-cooper/while-our-men-seem-thoroughly-abreast-of-the-times-on-almost-every/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
