First priority Quote by Caleb Carr
““No, since we began this case, another possibility has presented itself to me--the thought that, although my mother cared for her children, their welfare was simply not her first priority. And the real question is not why that should have been so, but why it should have been such a difficult theory to either formulate or accept--why, indeed, it should have taken a murder case to make me think of it. After all, a man who makes his children of secondary or even minor importance, though he may be criticized by some, is hardly held to be unusual. Why should we believe any differently of a woman?””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Alienist by Caleb Carr, 1994
The narrator questions why society judges mothers more harshly than fathers for neglecting children, highlighting gender bias in moral expectations.
In simple terms: Society judges mothers harder than fathers for neglect.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge gender double standards.
Themes
gender bias
parenting
social expectations
justice
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
analytical
social commentary
When to use this quote
- family counseling
- legal defense
- parenting workshops
- media commentary
Key Concepts
double standards
moral judgment
gender roles
Questions to Reflect On
- How do cultural norms shape expectations of mothers vs fathers?
- What steps can reduce gender bias in parenting judgments?
A Different Perspective
The quote assumes all mothers are equally judged, ignoring cultural variations.
![“But a woman was liable to put her child before everything else, in the end [...]” quote by Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4ee/ken-follett-941_child_but-a-woman-was-liable-to-put-her-child_2603403.jpg)
