--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The idealized woman becomes property…" description: "\"“The idealized woman becomes property, symbol, and ornament; she is stripped of her essential human qualities. The devalued woman becomes a different k..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/563/bell-hooks-464_human-qualities_the-idealized-woman-becomes-property-sym_1779151.jpg" --- # The idealized woman becomes property, symbol, and… ![“The idealized woman becomes property, symbol, and ornament; she is stripped of her essential human qualities. The devalued woman becomes a different kind of object; she is the spittoon in which men release their negative anti-woman feelings.” quote by bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/563/bell-hooks-464_human-qualities_the-idealized-woman-becomes-property-sym_1779151.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/563/bell-hooks-464_human-qualities_the-idealized-woman-becomes-property-sym_1779151.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/563/bell-hooks-464_human-qualities_the-idealized-woman-becomes-property-sym_1779151.jpg) > ““The idealized woman becomes property, symbol, and ornament; she is stripped of her essential human qualities. The devalued woman becomes a different kind of object; she is the spittoon in which men release their negative anti-woman feelings.”” [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage argues that idealizing women turns them into objects, stripping them of humanity, while devalued women become outlets for men’s misogynistic anger. **In simple terms:** Objectifying women denies their humanity and fuels misogyny. Key Takeaway Challenge objectification and value all women fully. Themes feminism gender objectification Mood empathetic analytical Type theoretical activist When to use this quote - media representation - education - workplace policies - personal relationships Key Concepts patriarchy human dignity Questions to Reflect On - In what ways can we reclaim women’s agency? - How do we confront objectifying language? A Different Perspective It may overlook individual agency within oppressive structures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Human qualities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-qualities/) ## Related quotes > [“To say it for those who know how to explain a thing: women have the intelligence, men the heart and passion. 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I even judged the Miss America pageant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/now-how-can-i-be-anti-woman-i-even-judged-the-miss-america-pageant/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I don't think anyone wants to look in the mirror and say, 'I'm anti-woman.' They don't see themselves that way, and you can't treat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/i-don-t-think-anyone-wants-to-look-in-the-mirror-and-say-i-m-anti/) [Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) > [I think there must have been some other girl printed somewhere in his heart, for he was a man of love and his wife…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/i-think-there-must-have-been-some-other-girl-printed-somewhere-in-his/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [The number one way a man can succeed in fulfilling a woman's primary love needs is through communication. 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Man is more robust than woman, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/but-the-same-spirits-of-analogy-will-authorise-me-to-assert-that-ours/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [When a man can listen to a woman's feelings without getting angry and frustrated, he gives her a wonderful gift. 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It doesn't mean that race doesn't matter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/right-now-for-many-americans-class-is-being-foregrounded-like-never/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Most folks believe we are hardwired biologically to long for sex but they do not believe we are hardwired to long for love. Almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/most-folks-believe-we-are-hardwired-biologically-to-long-for-sex-but/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [... we need to interrogate "reverence," for idolization can be another way one is objectified and not really taken seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/we-need-to-interrogate-reverence-for-idolization-can-be-another-way/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Couples who rarely or never have sex can know lifelong love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/couples-who-rarely-or-never-have-sex-can-know-lifelong-love/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [The power of patriarchy has been to make maleness feared and to make men feel that it is better to be feared that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/the-power-of-patriarchy-has-been-to-make-maleness-feared-and-to-make/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“I feel enormously blessed to be a successful black woman writer in this culture, but I have found my small fame, such as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/i-feel-enormously-blessed-to-be-a-successful-black-woman-writer-in/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Language is also a place of struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/language-is-also-a-place-of-struggle/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [In this culture, the phrase 'black woman' is not synonymous with 'tender,' or 'gentle.' 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However, praxis within any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/often-emphasis-on-identity-and-lifestyle-is-appealing-because-it/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) [Explore all 541 bell hooks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) ## More Human qualities quotes > [“So let us reflect on what is truly of value in life, what gives meaning to our lives, and set our priorities on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/so-let-us-reflect-on-what-is-truly-of-value-in-life-what-gives/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [My approach to politics is very serious. It must be handled by great people with extraordinary skills and human qualities. 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We shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/when-the-accumulation-of-wealth-is-no-longer-of-high-social/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [I'm someone that likes to not think too binary about human qualities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-thompson/i-m-someone-that-likes-to-not-think-too-binary-about-human-qualities/) [Tessa Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-thompson/) > [In every language, every culture, the most difficult words you have to say are: 'I'm sorry. Forgive me.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/in-every-language-every-culture-the-most-difficult-words-you-have-to/) [Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/) > [“It seems that scientific research reaches deeper and deeper. 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