--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Years ago, I worked in a newspaper…" description: "\"Years ago, I worked in a newspaper office, and there were men that would have fits of temper, and it was just accepted that that's who they were, and e..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32b/claire-messud-1372_hysterical_years-ago-i-worked-in-a-newspaper-office_1907139.jpg" --- # Years ago, I worked in a newspaper office, and there were… ![“Years ago, I worked in a newspaper office, and there were men that would have fits of temper, and it was just accepted that that's who they were, and everyone would laugh about it, but if a woman got upset or angry, something wasn't right: she was 'hysterical' or 'a little unhinged.' It didn't…” quote by Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32b/claire-messud-1372_hysterical_years-ago-i-worked-in-a-newspaper-office_1907139.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32b/claire-messud-1372_hysterical_years-ago-i-worked-in-a-newspaper-office_1907139.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32b/claire-messud-1372_hysterical_years-ago-i-worked-in-a-newspaper-office_1907139.jpg) > “Years ago, I worked in a newspaper office, and there were men that would have fits of temper, and it was just accepted that that's who they were, and everyone would laugh about it, but if a woman got upset or angry, something wasn't right: she was 'hysterical' or 'a little unhinged.' It didn't have the same sort of connotation at all.” [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Societal double standards label men’s anger as normal but women’s as irrational, reinforcing gender bias. **In simple terms:** Women’s anger is judged more harshly than men’s. Key Takeaway Challenge gendered language and expectations. Themes gender bias emotional expression double roles Mood frustrated reflective critical Type sociological analytical When to use this quote - workplace - family gatherings - media representation - political discourse Key Concepts double standards stereotypes social conditioning Questions to Reflect On - How does language shape our perception of anger? - What can we do to normalize women’s emotional expression? A Different Perspective Cultural norms can shift slowly, resistance may be strong. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Angry Wasn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angry-wasn-484747/) [Fits Temper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fits-temper-2849725/) [Hysterical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hysterical/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Newspaper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/newspaper/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [She](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/she/) [Temper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temper/) [Temper Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temper-just-384960/) [Woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woman/) [Years ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-ago/) ## Related quotes > [Nah, I don't have a bad temper. I just have a quick reaction to bullshit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nah-i-don-t-have-a-bad-temper-i-just-have-a-quick-reaction-to-bullshit/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Now I know we said things, did things that we didn't mean, And we fall back into the same patterns, same routine, But your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-verma/now-i-know-we-said-things-did-things-that-we-didn-t-mean-and-we-fall/) [Amit Verma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-verma/) > [A child that has a quick temper, just blaze up and cool down, ain't never likely to be sly or deceitful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/a-child-that-has-a-quick-temper-just-blaze-up-and-cool-down-ain-t/) [Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/) > [I don't have a short temper, I just have a quick reaction to bullshit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-have-a-short-temper-i-just-have-a-quick-reaction-to-bullshit/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I dont have a short temper, I just have an instant reaction to bullshit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karlay/i-dont-have-a-short-temper-i-just-have-an-instant-reaction-to-bullshit/) [Karlay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karlay/) > [“Most of the world was mad. And the part that wasn’t mad was angry. And the part that wasn’t mad or angry was just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/most-of-the-world-was-mad-and-the-part-that-wasn-t-mad-was-angry-and-2/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“Angry wasn’t the word to describe Loretta’s frame of mind. She wasn’t just furious, but horribly hurt as well. That terrified her. She wasn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-anderson/angry-wasn-t-the-word-to-describe-loretta-s-frame-of-mind-she-wasn-t/) [Catherine Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-anderson/) > [“The part I was trying to understand was why I was so damn angry. It wasn’t like I had any say in what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-kennedy/the-part-i-was-trying-to-understand-was-why-i-was-so-damn-angry-it/) [Sloane Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-kennedy/) > [I resented that my career wasn't going the way that it was supposed to. And I was angry that I wasn't getting the parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-thompson/i-resented-that-my-career-wasn-t-going-the-way-that-it-was-supposed/) [Scott Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-thompson/) > [I don't have a bad temper, I just have a quick reaction to morons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tumblr/i-don-t-have-a-bad-temper-i-just-have-a-quick-reaction-to-morons/) [Tumblr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tumblr/) > [I wouldn't mind being labeled as "angry," if it wasn't used once again to denigrate and belittle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/i-wouldn-t-mind-being-labeled-as-angry-if-it-wasn-t-used-once-again/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [Most of the world was mad. And the part that wasn't mad was angry. And the part that wasn't mad or angry was just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/most-of-the-world-was-mad-and-the-part-that-wasn-t-mad-was-angry-and/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“We were in a pit. Fitting. This was, after all, my hell. This pit around the lake. The lake that had taken so much.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-miranda/we-were-in-a-pit-fitting-this-was-after-all-my-hell-this-pit-around/) [Megan Miranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-miranda/) > [~ I dont have a short temper I just have a quick reaction to Bullshit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-dont-have-a-short-temper-i-just-have-a-quick-reaction-to-bullshit/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Which one hadn't he walked down? Was it Barkovitch? Collie Parker? Percy What'shisname? Who was it? 'GARRATY!' the crowd screamed deliriously. 'GARRATY, GARRATY, GARRATY!'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king-as-richard-bachman/which-one-hadn-t-he-walked-down-was-it-barkovitch-collie-parker-percy/) [Stephen King as Richard Bachman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king-as-richard-bachman/) ## More by Claire Messud > [I'd wish for my work to be remembered rather than myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/i-d-wish-for-my-work-to-be-remembered-rather-than-myself/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [I have said it somewhere - our literary lived lives are as important as our literally lived lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/i-have-said-it-somewhere-our-literary-lived-lives-are-as-important-as/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [“Life is about deciding what matters. It’s about the fantasy that determines the reality. Have you ever asked yourself whether you’d rather fly or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/life-is-about-deciding-what-matters-it-s-about-the-fantasy-that/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [Life's funny. You have to find a way to keep going, to keep laughing, even after you realize that none of your dreams will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/life-s-funny-you-have-to-find-a-way-to-keep-going-to-keep-laughing/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [It's the strangest thing about being human: to know so much, to communicate so much, and yet always to fall so drastically short of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/it-s-the-strangest-thing-about-being-human-to-know-so-much-to/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [The fictional narratives that television, film, and the news provide for girls and young women are appalling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/the-fictional-narratives-that-television-film-and-the-news-provide/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [“I don't want to sleep,' my mother said. 'I want -- for God's sake, I want to wake up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/i-don-t-want-to-sleep-my-mother-said-i-want-for-god-s-sake-i-want-to/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [“It was supposed to say “Great Artist” on my tombstone, but if I died right now it would say “such a good teacher/​daughter/​friend” instead;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/it-was-supposed-to-say-great-artist-on-my-tombstone-but-if-i-died/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [“Live, my dear Nora. Satisfy your hunger. There's food all around you, you know.' 'What kind of food, I'd like to know?' 'Ah'-he smiled-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/live-my-dear-nora-satisfy-your-hunger-there-s-food-all-around-you-you/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [I digress a lot - it's how I experience the world. I would like to write in a way that will convey that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/i-digress-a-lot-it-s-how-i-experience-the-world-i-would-like-to-write/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [We think that - as kids, you know - that kids make up stories and live in a sort of fictional place, but that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/we-think-that-as-kids-you-know-that-kids-make-up-stories-and-live-in/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [“It makes sense that if you stand almost daily in the middle of a perfect crescent of shore, with a vista open to eternity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/it-makes-sense-that-if-you-stand-almost-daily-in-the-middle-of-a/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [“Once aware of my isolation, I was afraid not of it but of its interruption.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/once-aware-of-my-isolation-i-was-afraid-not-of-it-but-of-its/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [“who I am in my head, very few people really get to see that. Almost none. It’s the most precious gift I can give,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/who-i-am-in-my-head-very-few-people-really-get-to-see-that-almost/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [“My everyday Appleton life, my phones calls to my father, my occasional beers with friends, my Saturday-morning jobs around the reservoir - what was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/my-everyday-appleton-life-my-phones-calls-to-my-father-my-occasional/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) [Explore all 249 Claire Messud quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) ## More Hysterical quotes > [“Which one hadn't he walked down? Was it Barkovitch? Collie Parker? Percy What'shisname? Who was it? 'GARRATY!' the crowd screamed deliriously. 'GARRATY, GARRATY, GARRATY!'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king-as-richard-bachman/which-one-hadn-t-he-walked-down-was-it-barkovitch-collie-parker-percy/) [Stephen King as Richard Bachman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king-as-richard-bachman/) > [“Blaming therapy, social work and other caring professions for the confabulation of testimony of 'satanic ritual abuse' legitimated a programme of political and social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/blaming-therapy-social-work-and-other-caring-professions-for-the/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [Saiman picked up a coffee mug, stared at it, and hurled it against the wall. It shattered into a dozen pieces. We looked at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/saiman-picked-up-a-coffee-mug-stared-at-it-and-hurled-it-against-the/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [I think that 'Family Guy' is hysterical. It's edgy and hip - and they can do whatever they want to do because it's animated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-levi/i-think-that-family-guy-is-hysterical-it-s-edgy-and-hip-and-they-can/) [Zachary Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-levi/) > [The hysterical find too much significance in things. The depressed find too little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/the-hysterical-find-too-much-significance-in-things-the-depressed/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Anyways, trying to express yourself to the press is often like arguing with a hysterical person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-koenig/anyways-trying-to-express-yourself-to-the-press-is-often-like-arguing/) [Ezra Koenig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-koenig/) > [I have no faith in our hypocritical, false, hysterical, uneducated and lazy intelligentsia when they suffer and complain: their oppression comes from within. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/i-have-no-faith-in-our-hypocritical-false-hysterical-uneducated-and/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [What I had mastered was fly-fishing Rule # 1: Remove all hooks from soft tissue under water, where near-freezing temperatures anesthetize exposed nerve endings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-maxwell/what-i-had-mastered-was-fly-fishing-rule-1-remove-all-hooks-from-soft/) [Jessica Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-maxwell/) > [I became hysterical and frightened and begged for sedation. And that was just the first prenatal visit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/i-became-hysterical-and-frightened-and-begged-for-sedation-and-that/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) > [Everyone in a position of authority is hysterical, and everyone else is pretending to be asleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/everyone-in-a-position-of-authority-is-hysterical-and-everyone-else/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [I watched 'The Neighbors' when it first came on, and I thought it was hysterical. And every time I think something just tickles my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhea-perlman/i-watched-the-neighbors-when-it-first-came-on-and-i-thought-it-was/) [Rhea Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhea-perlman/) > [You want the vote so badly that you think it worth while to become hysterical over it.' 'There is not much hysteria in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-benson/you-want-the-vote-so-badly-that-you-think-it-worth-while-to-become/) [Stella Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-benson/) > [Idealistic reformers are dangerous because their idealism has no roots in love, but is simply a hysterical and unbalanced rage for order amidst their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-irwin-thompson/idealistic-reformers-are-dangerous-because-their-idealism-has-no/) [William Irwin Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-irwin-thompson/) > [In the sequence where I am burned at the stake, everything was so casual and hazardous that the bottom of my dress caught fire,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-steele/in-the-sequence-where-i-am-burned-at-the-stake-everything-was-so/) [Barbara Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-steele/) > [ \[Concerning monotheistic religions\] The only thing these hysterical cults have in common is the belief that this world will be consumed, and deservedly so,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/concerning-monotheistic-religions-the-only-thing-these-hysterical/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) [Browse all 241 Hysterical quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hysterical/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Years ago, I worked in a newspaper office, and there were men that would have fits of temper, and it was just accepted that that's who they were, and everyone would laugh about it, but if a woman got upset or angry, something wasn't right: she was 'hysterical' or 'a little unhinged.' 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