Becoming a man Quote by Carole Pateman
““The sexual segregation of the labour force, and the preservation of workplaces as arenas for fraternal solidarity, have remained remarkably stable during the twentieth century.59 Most women can find paid employment only in a narrow range of low-status, low-paid occupations, where they work alongside other women and are managed by men, and, despite equal-pay legislation, they earn less than men. Marriage thus remains economically advantageous for most women. Moreover, the social pressures for women to become wives are as compelling as the economic. Single women lack a defined and accepted social place; becoming a man’s wife is still the major means through which most women can find a recognized social identity. More fundamentally, if women exercised their freedom to remain single on a large scale, men could not become husbands – and the sexual contract would be shaken.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Sexual Contract, 1988
Labor markets and social norms confine women to low‑status jobs and marriage, limiting true freedom and reinforcing gender inequality.
In simple terms: Women are structurally pushed into dependent roles.
Key Takeaway
Challenge systemic barriers to gender equality.
Themes
gender inequality
labor segregation
marriage economics
social identity
freedom
Mood
critical
political
analytical
Type
theoretical
sociopolitical
When to use this quote
- career counseling
- policy reform
- education
- activism
- support networks
Key Concepts
structural oppression
economic dependency
social contract
Questions to Reflect On
- What policies could reduce occupational segregation?
- How might society value single women beyond marital status?
A Different Perspective
Changing deep‑rooted cultural expectations takes time.
