Feminism Quote by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
““But here is a sad truth: Our world is full of men and women who do not like powerful women. We have been so conditioned to think of power as male that a powerful woman is an aberration. And so she is policed. We ask of powerful women: Is she humble? Does she smile? Is she grateful enough? Does she have a domestic side? Questions we do not ask of powerful men, which shows that our discomfort is not with power itself, but with women. We judge powerful women more harshly than we judge powerful men. And Feminism Lite enables this.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public talk on gender and power, 2015
Society often judges powerful women by unfair standards, demanding humility and domesticity, revealing bias against women in power.
In simple terms: Women in power face double standards and scrutiny.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge gendered expectations.
Themes
gender bias
power dynamics
feminism
social expectations
Mood
frustrated
determined
hopeful
Type
analytical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- workplace leadership
- political office
- media representation
- activism
- education
Key Concepts
intersectionality
stereotype threat
patriarchy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can institutions redesign evaluation criteria to be gender-neutral?
- What personal habits help resist gendered judgments?
A Different Perspective
Bias may be internalized, making change slow and resistance strong.
