--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When one begins to think about it…" description: "\"When one begins to think about it, America depends rather heavily on women's passive dependence, their femininity. Femininity, if one still wants to ca..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d6/betty-friedan-3185_america_when-one-begins-to-think-about-it-americ_582824.jpg" --- # When one begins to think about it, America depends rather… ![“When one begins to think about it, America depends rather heavily on women's passive dependence, their femininity. Femininity, if one still wants to call it that, makes American women a target and a victim of the sexual sell.” quote by Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d6/betty-friedan-3185_america_when-one-begins-to-think-about-it-americ_582824.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d6/betty-friedan-3185_america_when-one-begins-to-think-about-it-americ_582824.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d6/betty-friedan-3185_america_when-one-begins-to-think-about-it-americ_582824.jpg) > “When one begins to think about it, America depends rather heavily on women's passive dependence, their femininity. Femininity, if one still wants to call it that, makes American women a target and a victim of the sexual sell.” [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that American society relies on traditional gender roles that render women passive and vulnerable to exploitation. **In simple terms:** America’s view of women makes them passive and exploited. Key Takeaway Recognize and challenge passive gender expectations. Themes gender roles exploitation feminism Mood critical reflective Type social commentary feminist critique When to use this quote - workplace - media representation - family dynamics - policy making Key Concepts patriarchy social conditioning sexual commodification Questions to Reflect On - How do passive stereotypes affect women’s opportunities? - What can reshape societal expectations? A Different Perspective The statement may overlook women’s agency and diverse experiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [American women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-women/) [Femininity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/femininity/) [Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Victim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victim/) ## Related quotes > [We are all inundated with images that present a limited scope of what is considered beautiful. 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The feminine mystique has made higher education for women seem suspect, unnecessary and even dangerous.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/the-key-to-the-trap-is-of-course-education-the-feminine-mystique-has/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [“Gradually, without seeing it clearly for quite a while, I came to realize that something is very wrong with the way American women are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/gradually-without-seeing-it-clearly-for-quite-a-while-i-came-to/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [American women were frustrated in just the role of housewife - but they also managed to enlarge it. And they weren't just housewives, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/american-women-were-frustrated-in-just-the-role-of-housewife-but-they/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [The feminine mystique has succeeded in burying millions of American women alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/the-feminine-mystique-has-succeeded-in-burying-millions-of-american/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [“The problem lay buried, unspoken, for many years in the minds of American women. 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Have you not watched it? Buddha looks very feminine, Krishna…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/be-passive-in-your-passivity-god-comes-be-feminine-in-your-femininity/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [When she stopped conforming to the conventional picture of femininity she finally began to enjoy being a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/when-she-stopped-conforming-to-the-conventional-picture-of-femininity/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [I'm against suppression of pornography. If you suppress guns - yes; if you want to suppress poverty - yes. These are the obscenities, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/i-m-against-suppression-of-pornography-if-you-suppress-guns-yes-if/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [The great thing about American women is their energy and the way they love to dress. French women don't really dress; they are too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-gaultier/the-great-thing-about-american-women-is-their-energy-and-the-way-they/) [Jean Paul Gaultier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-gaultier/) > [The work-family divide is the biggest issue for American women. But in some ways it's amazing how adjusted society has become to it. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/the-work-family-divide-is-the-biggest-issue-for-american-women-but-in/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) ## More by Betty Friedan > [It is easier to live life through someone else than to become complete yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/it-is-easier-to-live-life-through-someone-else-than-to-become/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [This idea that the employment of women, the movement of women outside the home into the work world, and their demand for equality is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/this-idea-that-the-employment-of-women-the-movement-of-women-outside/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [A good woman is one who loves passionately, has guts, seriousness and passionate convictions, takes responsibility, and shapes society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/a-good-woman-is-one-who-loves-passionately-has-guts-seriousness-and/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [...women who 'adjust' as housewives, who grow up wanting to be 'just a housewife,' are in as much danger as the millions who walked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/women-who-adjust-as-housewives-who-grow-up-wanting-to-be-just-a/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [You can have it all, just not all at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/you-can-have-it-all-just-not-all-at-the-same-time/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [It is easier to live through someone else than to complete yourself. The freedom to lead and plan your own life is frightening if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/it-is-easier-to-live-through-someone-else-than-to-complete-yourself/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [Protectiveness has often muffled the sound of doors closing against women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/protectiveness-has-often-muffled-the-sound-of-doors-closing-against/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [“The problem is always being the children’s mommy, or the minister’s wife and never being myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/the-problem-is-always-being-the-children-s-mommy-or-the-minister-s/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [“The problem lay buried, unspoken, for many years in the minds of American women. It was a strange stirring, a sense of dissatisfaction, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/the-problem-lay-buried-unspoken-for-many-years-in-the-minds-of/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [The man who is extremely and dangerously hungry has no other interest but food. Capacities not useful for the satisfying of hunger are pushed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/the-man-who-is-extremely-and-dangerously-hungry-has-no-other-interest/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [Who knows what women can be when they are finally free to become themselves? 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But I was so aware of the crime, the shame…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/i-can-t-point-to-any-major-episodes-of-sexual-discrimination-in-my/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [“The feminine mystique, elevated by Freudian theory into a scientific religion, sounded a single, overprotective, life-restricting, future-denying note for women. Girls who grew up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/the-feminine-mystique-elevated-by-freudian-theory-into-a-scientific/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) [Explore all 137 Betty Friedan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... 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