--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sexuality is to feminism what work is to…" description: "\"Sexuality is to feminism what work is to Marxism...\" — Catharine MacKinnon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10c/catharine-mackinnon-18414_feminism_sexuality-is-to-feminism-what-work-is-to_1682644.jpg" --- # Sexuality is to feminism what work is to Marxism... ![“Sexuality is to feminism what work is to Marxism...” quote by Catharine MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10c/catharine-mackinnon-18414_feminism_sexuality-is-to-feminism-what-work-is-to_1682644.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10c/catharine-mackinnon-18414_feminism_sexuality-is-to-feminism-what-work-is-to_1682644.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10c/catharine-mackinnon-18414_feminism_sexuality-is-to-feminism-what-work-is-to_1682644.jpg) > “Sexuality is to feminism what work is to Marxism...” [Catharine MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catharine-mackinnon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Sexuality is central to feminism like labor is to Marxism, shaping power dynamics and oppression. **In simple terms:** Sexuality is key to feminist analysis. Key Takeaway Recognize sexual politics in feminist work. Themes feminism sexual politics power oppression theory Mood critical analytical Type theoretical political When to use this quote - activism - policy making - education - legal reform Key Concepts intersectionality materialism class struggle Questions to Reflect On - How does sexuality shape feminist goals? - In what ways can labor theory inform gender equality? A Different Perspective May overlook other axes of identity; not all feminists prioritize sexuality equally. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Feminist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminist/) [Marxism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marxism/) [Sexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexuality/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Before feminism, work was largely defined as what men did or would do. Thus, a working woman was someone who labored outside the home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/before-feminism-work-was-largely-defined-as-what-men-did-or-would-do/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [Why are we not valuing the word 'feminism' when there is so much work to be done in terms of empowerment and emancipation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lennox/why-are-we-not-valuing-the-word-feminism-when-there-is-so-much-work/) [Annie Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lennox/) > [As a Black lesbian feminist comfortable with the many different ingredients of my identity, and a woman committed to racial and sexual freedom from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/as-a-black-lesbian-feminist-comfortable-with-the-many-different/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [“She believed being so free with her sexuality was empowering, but I wouldn't say taking home a douchebag who would laugh about the encounter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-lo/she-believed-being-so-free-with-her-sexuality-was-empowering-but-i/) [Teresa Lo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-lo/) > [The feminist movement is often clouded with Gloria Steinem's perspective, but I feel like denying women their sexuality is just as chauvinistic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-heard/the-feminist-movement-is-often-clouded-with-gloria-steinem-s/) [Amber Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-heard/) > [It is often falsely assumed, even by feminists, that sexuality is the enemy of the female who really wants to develop these aspects of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germaine-greer/it-is-often-falsely-assumed-even-by-feminists-that-sexuality-is-the/) [Germaine Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germaine-greer/) > [The transsexually constructed lesbian-feminist feeds off woman’s true energy source, i.e. her woman-identified self. It is he who recognises that if female spirit, mind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-raymond/the-transsexually-constructed-lesbian-feminist-feeds-off-woman-s-true/) [Janice Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-raymond/) > [Feminist theory has left an indelible mark on my own critical—and creative—thinking . . . For me, everything I questioned about what it meant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/feminist-theory-has-left-an-indelible-mark-on-my-own-critical-and/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [“Britta wanted to try to turn a guard. Tamara thought it was idiotic. “What are you going to do? Buy him beer and tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-veselka/britta-wanted-to-try-to-turn-a-guard-tamara-thought-it-was-idiotic/) [Vanessa Veselka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-veselka/) > [The forces of immorality and Marxism and evil count on one thing: Us not showing up. And often, they're justified in that. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-shea/the-forces-of-immorality-and-marxism-and-evil-count-on-one-thing-us/) [Matt Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-shea/) > [Sea Shepherd is to terrorism what Groucho was to Marxism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/sea-shepherd-is-to-terrorism-what-groucho-was-to-marxism/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [Marxism is like a classical building that followed the Renaissance; beautiful in its way, but incapable of growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-macmillan/marxism-is-like-a-classical-building-that-followed-the-renaissance/) [Harold MacMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-macmillan/) > [Even if we have to go without bread, we Albanians do not violate principles. We do not betray Marxism - Leninism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enver-hoxha/even-if-we-have-to-go-without-bread-we-albanians-do-not-violate/) [Enver Hoxha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enver-hoxha/) > [The dialectic is neither fiction nor mysticism, but a science of the forms of our thinking insofar as it is not limited to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-trotsky/the-dialectic-is-neither-fiction-nor-mysticism-but-a-science-of-the/) [Leon Trotsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-trotsky/) > [“I should say that it was only for me that Marxism seemed over. Surely, I would tell G. at least once a week, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katha-pollitt/i-should-say-that-it-was-only-for-me-that-marxism-seemed-over-surely/) [Katha Pollitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katha-pollitt/) ## More by Catharine MacKinnon > [Power is being able to say complete and utter nonsense and have it be believed, powerlessness is where no matter how much cogent evidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catharine-mackinnon/power-is-being-able-to-say-complete-and-utter-nonsense-and-have-it-be/) [Catharine MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catharine-mackinnon/) > [What postmodernism gives us instead is a multicultural defense for male violence - a defense for it wherever it is, which in effect is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catharine-mackinnon/what-postmodernism-gives-us-instead-is-a-multicultural-defense-for/) [Catharine MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catharine-mackinnon/) > [You grow up with your father holding you down and covering your mouth so another man can make a horrible searing pain between your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catharine-mackinnon/you-grow-up-with-your-father-holding-you-down-and-covering-your-mouth/) [Catharine MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catharine-mackinnon/) > [Feminism, Socialism, and Communism are one in the same, and Socialist/Communist government is the goal of feminism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catharine-mackinnon/feminism-socialism-and-communism-are-one-in-the-same-and-socialist/) [Catharine MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catharine-mackinnon/) > [Empirically, all pornography is made under conditions of inequality based on sex, overwhelmingly by poor, desperate, homeless, pimped women who were sexually abused as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catharine-mackinnon/empirically-all-pornography-is-made-under-conditions-of-inequality/) [Catharine MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catharine-mackinnon/) > [So the idea that there is nothing essential, in the sense that there are no human universals, is dogma. Ask most anyone who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catharine-mackinnon/so-the-idea-that-there-is-nothing-essential-in-the-sense-that-there/) [Catharine MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catharine-mackinnon/) > [Women and men are divided by gender, made into the sexes as we know them, by the social requirements of heterosexuality, which institutionalizes male…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catharine-mackinnon/women-and-men-are-divided-by-gender-made-into-the-sexes-as-we-know/) [Catharine MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catharine-mackinnon/) > [“Division may be rational or irrational. Dominance either seems or is justified. Difference is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catharine-mackinnon/division-may-be-rational-or-irrational-dominance-either-seems-or-is/) [Catharine MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catharine-mackinnon/) > [Stopped as attribute of a person, sex inequality takes the form of gender; moving as a relation between people, it takes the form of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catharine-mackinnon/stopped-as-attribute-of-a-person-sex-inequality-takes-the-form-of/) [Catharine MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catharine-mackinnon/) > [Postmodernism is an academic theory, originating in academia with an academic elite, not in the world of women and men, where feminist theory is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catharine-mackinnon/postmodernism-is-an-academic-theory-originating-in-academia-with-an/) [Catharine MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catharine-mackinnon/) > [In my opinion, no feminism worthy of the name is not methodologically post-marxist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catharine-mackinnon/in-my-opinion-no-feminism-worthy-of-the-name-is-not-methodologically/) [Catharine MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catharine-mackinnon/) > [If you want to know who is being hurt in this society, go see what is being done and to whom in pornography and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catharine-mackinnon/if-you-want-to-know-who-is-being-hurt-in-this-society-go-see-what-is/) [Catharine MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catharine-mackinnon/) > [To be a prisoner means to be defined as a member of a group for whom the rules of what can be done to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catharine-mackinnon/to-be-a-prisoner-means-to-be-defined-as-a-member-of-a-group-for-whom/) [Catharine MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catharine-mackinnon/) > [The arena of logic was made by men for men; it was expressly founded on the exclusion of what is not male, as well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catharine-mackinnon/the-arena-of-logic-was-made-by-men-for-men-it-was-expressly-founded/) [Catharine MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catharine-mackinnon/) > [Instead of being lionized and admired for her genius, instead of being able to earn a decent living as a writer, Andrea Dworkin was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catharine-mackinnon/instead-of-being-lionized-and-admired-for-her-genius-instead-of-being/) [Catharine MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catharine-mackinnon/) [Explore all 35 Catharine MacKinnon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catharine-mackinnon/) ## More Feminism quotes > [“But benevolent patriarchy is still patriarchy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/but-benevolent-patriarchy-is-still-patriarchy/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [“This story is not at all an uncommon one in tech circles, including gaming. The popular notion is that women who get ahead must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bailey-poland/this-story-is-not-at-all-an-uncommon-one-in-tech-circles-including/) [Bailey Poland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bailey-poland/) > [Without meaning to sound anti-men, ghastly women are the closest you get to a male role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-burke/without-meaning-to-sound-anti-men-ghastly-women-are-the-closest-you/) [Kathy Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-burke/) > [If the women in the factories stopped work for twenty minutes, the Allies would lose the war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joffre/if-the-women-in-the-factories-stopped-work-for-twenty-minutes-the/) Joseph Joffre > [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [“If attempting to make the world a civilized one, makes you a bad woman in the eyes of the dumb patriarchal society, then, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-attempting-to-make-the-world-a-civilized-one-makes-you-a-bad-woman/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“there was something of the women molded into the great, stalwart frame of Hollingsworth; nor was he ashamed of it; as men often are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/there-was-something-of-the-women-molded-into-the-great-stalwart-frame/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [Women rule the world. It's not really worth fighting because they know what they're doing. Ask Napoleon. Ask Adam. Ask Richard Burton or Richie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bon-jovi/women-rule-the-world-it-s-not-really-worth-fighting-because-they-know/) [Jon Bon Jovi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bon-jovi/) > [“Bármilyen idiótának, aki azt kérdezi: „Feminista vagy? Akkor elégeted a melltartóidat, mi? HE? Melltartókat égetsz, te feminista?” – szép nyugodtan így kell válaszolni: „Ostoba.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-moran/b-rmilyen-idi-t-nak-aki-azt-k-rdezi-feminista-vagy-akkor-el-geted-a/) [Caitlin Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-moran/) > [People are capable of great, great change during the span of one lifetime. And women even more than men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/people-are-capable-of-great-great-change-during-the-span-of-one/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [Susan B. Anthony must be turning in her grave if she knew that millions of women who have the right to vote are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-m-kunin/susan-b-anthony-must-be-turning-in-her-grave-if-she-knew-that/) [Madeleine M. Kunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-m-kunin/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [Women know things that men will never know. We keep the best secrets. We tell the best stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/women-know-things-that-men-will-never-know-we-keep-the-best-secrets/) [Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/) > [“Women will be at least 50 percent of the communications community workforce … from executive suite to interns. Why? The “integrated” agency will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoram-wind/women-will-be-at-least-50-percent-of-the-communications-community/) Yoram Wind [Browse all 15,705 Feminism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sexuality is to feminism what work is to Marxism...", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Catharine MacKinnon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catharine-mackinnon/sexuality-is-to-feminism-what-work-is-to-marxism/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Feminism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catharine-mackinnon/sexuality-is-to-feminism-what-work-is-to-marxism/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10c/catharine-mackinnon-18414_feminism_sexuality-is-to-feminism-what-work-is-to_1682644.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10c/catharine-mackinnon-18414_feminism_sexuality-is-to-feminism-what-work-is-to_1682644.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/10c/catharine-mackinnon-18414_feminism_sexuality-is-to-feminism-what-work-is-to_1682644.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Sexuality is to feminism what work is to Marxism...” — Catharine MacKinnon", "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": "Catharine MacKinnon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catharine-mackinnon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Sexuality is to feminism what work...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catharine-mackinnon/sexuality-is-to-feminism-what-work-is-to-marxism/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catharine-mackinnon/sexuality-is-to-feminism-what-work-is-to-marxism/#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 } } ] } ```