Authority Quote by Elizabeth Gould Davis
“The idea of feminine authority is so deeply embedded in the human subconscious that even after all these centuries of father-right the young child instinctively regards the mother as the supreme authority. He looks upon the father as equal with himself, equally subject to the woman's rule. Children have to be taught to love, honor, and respect the father, a task usually assumed by the mother.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Woman's Bible, 1895
Societal norms subtly position mothers as primary authority, while fathers are seen as peers, requiring deliberate teaching of respect toward fathers.
In simple terms: Mothers are seen as top authority; fathers need taught respect.
Key Takeaway
Teach children to respect both parents equally.
Themes
gender roles
authority
family dynamics
social conditioning
Mood
reflective
critical
analytical
Type
sociological
cultural
educational
When to use this quote
- parenting
- education
- family counseling
- cultural studies
Key Concepts
patriarchy
maternal authority
socialization
Questions to Reflect On
- How does this perception affect gender equality?
- What practices can balance parental authority?
A Different Perspective
May overlook cultures where paternal authority remains dominant.
![“The great problem of American life [is] the riddle ofauthority: the difficulty of finding a way, within a liberaland individualistic social order, of living in harmoniousand consecrated submission to something larger than oneself… A yearning for self-transcendence and submission to authority [is]…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f58/anonymous-1_american-life_the-great-problem-of-american-life-is-th_1286447.jpg)
![“The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the formulas of nations at war, where any heinousness is justified on the grounds that the enemy is either an inferior [part of the] species or…” quote by Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/895/kate-millett-7301_accompany_the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imp_8896.jpg)
