--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even though my mom was talented and had a…" description: "\"Even though my mom was talented and had a college degree, she lived in the era when the conventional wisdom in Dallas was that my dad worked, she was s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e7/cecile-richards-16593_conventional-wisdom_even-though-my-mom-was-talented-and-had_332195.jpg" --- # Even though my mom was talented and had a college degree… ![“Even though my mom was talented and had a college degree, she lived in the era when the conventional wisdom in Dallas was that my dad worked, she was supposed to stay home and take care of the kids, and that was that. There really weren't other opportunities for her, and most of them were…” quote by Cecile Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e7/cecile-richards-16593_conventional-wisdom_even-though-my-mom-was-talented-and-had_332195.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e7/cecile-richards-16593_conventional-wisdom_even-though-my-mom-was-talented-and-had_332195.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e7/cecile-richards-16593_conventional-wisdom_even-though-my-mom-was-talented-and-had_332195.jpg) > “Even though my mom was talented and had a college degree, she lived in the era when the conventional wisdom in Dallas was that my dad worked, she was supposed to stay home and take care of the kids, and that was that. There really weren't other opportunities for her, and most of them were volunteer opportunities.” [Cecile Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecile-richards/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Societal expectations limited a woman's career options, confining her to domestic duties despite her education. **In simple terms:** Gender norms restricted her professional life. Key Takeaway Challenge and gender expectations. Themes gender career education family societal norms Mood determined hopeful Type social advocacy When to use this quote - career counseling - policy advocacy - women’s support groups Key Concepts feminism social inequality role expectations Questions to Reflect On - How can we expand opportunities for educated women? - What support systems help break these norms? A Different Perspective Progress may overlook individual agency and choice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conventional wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conventional-wisdom/) [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Dad Worked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad-worked/) [Dallas Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dallas-dad-3106036/) [Degree Lived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degree-lived-3106037/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Mom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mom/) [Mom Talented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mom-talented-3106035/) [Stay Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stay-home/) [Take care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/take-care/) [Weren Opportunities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weren-opportunities-1742954/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [I grew up in a place where there weren't many opportunities if you didn't become a footballer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-tevez/i-grew-up-in-a-place-where-there-weren-t-many-opportunities-if-you/) [Carlos Tevez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-tevez/) > [I grew up in Dallas, and my dad works for IBM, so I grew up in the environment of Silicon Prairie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-michael-foster/i-grew-up-in-dallas-and-my-dad-works-for-ibm-so-i-grew-up-in-the/) [Scott Michael Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-michael-foster/) > [I watched my parents. My dad worked nights, and I was aware of how much he was doing for us. My mom was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lopez/i-watched-my-parents-my-dad-worked-nights-and-i-was-aware-of-how-much/) [Jennifer Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lopez/) > [My dad worked two jobs and my mom worked full-time so that they could afford to send me to this private Lutheran school starting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-bettis/my-dad-worked-two-jobs-and-my-mom-worked-full-time-so-that-they-could/) [Jerome Bettis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-bettis/) > [Dad has worked as a banker at the same firm in Boston, living in the same suburban neighborhood for over 50 years. Later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amor-towles/dad-has-worked-as-a-banker-at-the-same-firm-in-boston-living-in-the/) [Amor Towles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amor-towles/) > [“My dad worked for 40 years in an aluminum plant. I don’t think he ever got “aluminum block.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/my-dad-worked-for-40-years-in-an-aluminum-plant-i-don-t-think-he-ever/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) > [My dad worked in the IT industry, although I haven't got a clue what he did. He always tells me but it just goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/my-dad-worked-in-the-it-industry-although-i-haven-t-got-a-clue-what/) [Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/) > [My mum and dad worked in the pottery industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-mum-and-dad-worked-in-the-pottery-industry/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [My dad worked so hard. He slept in his own bed maybe half the nights of the year because of road assignments, but even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-buck/my-dad-worked-so-hard-he-slept-in-his-own-bed-maybe-half-the-nights/) [Joe Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-buck/) > [It's true my father used to work 18 hours a day as a security guard to help support my dream of becoming a footballer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-almiron/it-s-true-my-father-used-to-work-18-hours-a-day-as-a-security-guard/) [Miguel Almiron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-almiron/) > [My dad worked very hard for the money he made, and my mom worked very hard to keep this household up and running and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-basinger/my-dad-worked-very-hard-for-the-money-he-made-and-my-mom-worked-very/) [Kim Basinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-basinger/) > [My dad worked on the Middlesbrough docks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rodgers/my-dad-worked-on-the-middlesbrough-docks/) [Paul Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rodgers/) > [My mum and dad had worked incredibly hard to afford me an education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/my-mum-and-dad-had-worked-incredibly-hard-to-afford-me-an-education/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [My dad worked for Kodak and was made redundant when I was about 14. Despite this, my parents did everything they could to help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-fletcher/my-dad-worked-for-kodak-and-was-made-redundant-when-i-was-about-14/) [Tom Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-fletcher/) > [My dad worked all sorts of jobs when I was growing up and finally ended up as a surveyor; my mum delivers meals to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-dockery/my-dad-worked-all-sorts-of-jobs-when-i-was-growing-up-and-finally/) [Michelle Dockery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-dockery/) ## More by Cecile Richards > [I worked with women who were nurses and workers, women who worked in hotels, janitors who basically cleaned buildings, worked two jobs just to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecile-richards/i-worked-with-women-who-were-nurses-and-workers-women-who-worked-in/) [Cecile Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecile-richards/) > [We applaud Congress for extending equitable abortion coverage to female Peace Corps volunteers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecile-richards/we-applaud-congress-for-extending-equitable-abortion-coverage-to/) [Cecile Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecile-richards/) > [If you look at the workforce and the way our laws work around so many issues, it's as if women are supposed to retrofit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecile-richards/if-you-look-at-the-workforce-and-the-way-our-laws-work-around-so-many/) [Cecile Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecile-richards/) > [My dad was a civil rights lawyer, and he was actually defending conscientious objectors to the Vietnam War.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecile-richards/my-dad-was-a-civil-rights-lawyer-and-he-was-actually-defending/) [Cecile Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecile-richards/) > [I can't imagine that my children would have fewer rights, and less access to the safest, best health care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecile-richards/i-can-t-imagine-that-my-children-would-have-fewer-rights-and-less/) [Cecile Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecile-richards/) > [The women who walk into Planned Parenthood clinics come from every background, every political persuasion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecile-richards/the-women-who-walk-into-planned-parenthood-clinics-come-from-every/) [Cecile Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecile-richards/) > [The national policy of promoting abstinence-only programs is a $1.5 billion failure and teenage girls are paying the real price.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecile-richards/the-national-policy-of-promoting-abstinence-only-programs-is-a-1-5/) [Cecile Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecile-richards/) > [All my life, I've been lucky to work in social justice, starting as a labor organizer working with low-wage working women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecile-richards/all-my-life-i-ve-been-lucky-to-work-in-social-justice-starting-as-a/) [Cecile Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecile-richards/) > [Thanks to President Obama, being a woman will no longer be a pre-existing condition!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecile-richards/thanks-to-president-obama-being-a-woman-will-no-longer-be-a-pre/) [Cecile Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecile-richards/) > [Dealing with men in Congress - for the most part, it's pretty dispiriting in terms of the lack of regard they have for women.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecile-richards/dealing-with-men-in-congress-for-the-most-part-it-s-pretty/) [Cecile Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecile-richards/) > [I think we're all fighting for the day in which partisan politics is no longer something that is used to attack women's access to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecile-richards/i-think-we-re-all-fighting-for-the-day-in-which-partisan-politics-is/) [Cecile Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecile-richards/) > [And because of President Obama, more women than ever are serving in the Cabinet and on the Supreme Court.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecile-richards/and-because-of-president-obama-more-women-than-ever-are-serving-in/) [Cecile Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecile-richards/) > [I'm grateful to women who have the privilege and ability to tell their stories and applaud them for doing that. And also recognize that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecile-richards/i-m-grateful-to-women-who-have-the-privilege-and-ability-to-tell/) [Cecile Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecile-richards/) > [It's better to be a corporation today than to be a woman in front of the Supreme Court.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecile-richards/it-s-better-to-be-a-corporation-today-than-to-be-a-woman-in-front-of/) [Cecile Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecile-richards/) > [The good news is when we are in full-on sisterhood, women are the most powerful, political force in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecile-richards/the-good-news-is-when-we-are-in-full-on-sisterhood-women-are-the-most/) [Cecile Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecile-richards/) [Explore all 39 Cecile Richards quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecile-richards/) ## More Conventional wisdom quotes > [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/) [Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/) > [Contrarian thinking at its best simply asks, Is this really true? It speaks up when the politically correct answer or the conventional wisdom doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-osborne/contrarian-thinking-at-its-best-simply-asks-is-this-really-true-it/) [Larry Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-osborne/) > [“Ferguson also takes a swipe at the conventional wisdom surrounding aspects of World War I. “The key to the Allies’ victory was not an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-williams/ferguson-also-takes-a-swipe-at-the-conventional-wisdom-surrounding/) [Luke Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-williams/) > [What's different now is that while political leaders used to give talking points to talk radio, now talk-radio hosts are giving talking points to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-avlon/what-s-different-now-is-that-while-political-leaders-used-to-give/) [John Avlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-avlon/) > [“You have to remain critically vigilant.” Question every premise, challenge conventional wisdom, and never accept the truth of something merely because everyone else views…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/you-have-to-remain-critically-vigilant-question-every-premise/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [“It is hard to find many better examples of values-first leadership than Ventura, California-based outdoor clothing company Patagonia. For more than 30 years, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-de-haaff/it-is-hard-to-find-many-better-examples-of-values-first-leadership/) [Brian de Haaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-de-haaff/) > [Hurricane Katrina overwhelmed levees and exploded the conventional wisdom about a shared American prosperity, exposing a group of people so poor they didn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/hurricane-katrina-overwhelmed-levees-and-exploded-the-conventional/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [All conventional wisdom has an element of truth to it, but good design requires more than an element of truth - it requires an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-petroski/all-conventional-wisdom-has-an-element-of-truth-to-it-but-good-design/) [Henry Petroski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-petroski/) > [“If you're careful to listen to your instincts and question conventional wisdom, set priorities, and make thoughtful choices, eventually you will figure out how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlene-dickinson/if-you-re-careful-to-listen-to-your-instincts-and-question/) [Arlene Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlene-dickinson/) > [Conventional wisdom on government's role in inequality often has it backwards. Tax reforms have resulted in a more progressive federal income tax; government transfer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/conventional-wisdom-on-government-s-role-in-inequality-often-has-it/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [The line that I am urging as today's conventional wisdom is not a denial of consciousness. It is often called, with more reason, arepudiation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willard-van-orman-quine/the-line-that-i-am-urging-as-today-s-conventional-wisdom-is-not-a/) [Willard Van Orman Quine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willard-van-orman-quine/) > [Conventional wisdom tells us we'll only be happier after a divorce if the marriage itself was a war zone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/conventional-wisdom-tells-us-we-ll-only-be-happier-after-a-divorce-if/) [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) > [“What is carved on rocks were away in time. What is told from mouth to mouth will live forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vietnamese/what-is-carved-on-rocks-were-away-in-time-what-is-told-from-mouth-to/) [Vietnamese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vietnamese/) > [Science is based on experiment, on a willingness to challenge old dogma, on an openness to see the universe as it really is. Accordingly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/science-is-based-on-experiment-on-a-willingness-to-challenge-old/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [“For all the tenure of humans on Earth, the night sky had been a companion and an inspiration. The stars were comforting. They seemed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/for-all-the-tenure-of-humans-on-earth-the-night-sky-had-been-a/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) [Browse all 249 Conventional wisdom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conventional-wisdom/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Even though my mom was talented and had a college degree, she lived in the era when the conventional wisdom in Dallas was that my dad worked, she was supposed to stay home and take care of the kids, and that was that. 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