--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You cannot make women contented with…" description: "\"You cannot make women contented with cooking and cleaning and you need not try.\" — Ellen Swallow Richards" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/112/ellen-swallow-richards-22099_cleaning_you-cannot-make-women-contented-with-coo_866604.png" --- # You cannot make women contented with cooking and cleaning… ![“You cannot make women contented with cooking and cleaning and you need not try.” quote by Ellen Swallow Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/112/ellen-swallow-richards-22099_cleaning_you-cannot-make-women-contented-with-coo_866604.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/112/ellen-swallow-richards-22099_cleaning_you-cannot-make-women-contented-with-coo_866604.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/112/ellen-swallow-richards-22099_cleaning_you-cannot-make-women-contented-with-coo_866604.png) > “You cannot make women contented with cooking and cleaning and you need not try.” [Ellen Swallow Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-swallow-richards/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Women should not be forced into traditional domestic roles; equality means respecting individual choices. **In simple terms:** Women deserve freedom beyond cooking and cleaning. Key Takeaway Support gender equality and personal agency. Themes gender equality women's rights social norms freedom Mood reflective motivational Type advocacy philosophical When to use this quote - workplace policies - education - family dynamics - media representation Key Concepts feminism social justice Questions to Reflect On - How can we challenge gender stereotypes? - What policies empower women's choices? A Different Perspective Changing deep‑rooted cultural expectations takes time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cooking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cooking/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/) ## Related quotes > [“My mother despises what can never truly be done so she does not care for cooking or cleaning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-shearin/my-mother-despises-what-can-never-truly-be-done-so-she-does-not-care/) Faith Shearin > [So, where are the robots? We've been told for 40 years already that they're coming soon. Very soon they'll be doing everything for us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hod-lipson/so-where-are-the-robots-we-ve-been-told-for-40-years-already-that/) [Hod Lipson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hod-lipson/) > [ No movement calls \[migrant workers\] oppressed for providing money for women from whom they are receiving neither cooking nor cleaning; for providing their wives… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/no-movement-calls-migrant-workers-oppressed-for-providing-money-for/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [We have drugs to make women speak, but none to keep them silent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/we-have-drugs-to-make-women-speak-but-none-to-keep-them-silent/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [My goal when I make my show is to make a show for women. I don't make a show for men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-q/my-goal-when-i-make-my-show-is-to-make-a-show-for-women-i-don-t-make/) [Maggie Q](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-q/) > [It's time for men to be held accountable when they make women feel uncomfortable or do things out of line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/logan-browning/it-s-time-for-men-to-be-held-accountable-when-they-make-women-feel/) [Logan Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/logan-browning/) > [Fashion should be about making clothes that make all women look beautiful, not making women starve so that they can fit in a size 8.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-dahl/fashion-should-be-about-making-clothes-that-make-all-women-look/) [Sophie Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-dahl/) > [“We must dress to make other women jealous and to attract men.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zane-grey/we-must-dress-to-make-other-women-jealous-and-to-attract-men/) [Zane Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zane-grey/) > [Men cannot count, they do not know that two and two make four if women do not tell them so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/men-cannot-count-they-do-not-know-that-two-and-two-make-four-if-women/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [The greatest contribution you can make to women's rights, is to be the absolute ... best at what you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/the-greatest-contribution-you-can-make-to-women-s-rights-is-to-be-the/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [I want to make clothes that make women feel beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prabal-gurung/i-want-to-make-clothes-that-make-women-feel-beautiful/) [Prabal Gurung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prabal-gurung/) > [Women are the primary resource of the planet. They give birth, we come from them. They are mothers, they are visionaries, they are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/women-are-the-primary-resource-of-the-planet-they-give-birth-we-come/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [Abortion is a denial of one of those powers which make women women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-e-smith/abortion-is-a-denial-of-one-of-those-powers-which-make-women-women/) [Janet E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-e-smith/) > [The noble woman is half a man, even a complete one. Only their imperfections make them women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/the-noble-woman-is-half-a-man-even-a-complete-one-only-their/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [I don't understand why there needs to be a love interest to make women go see a film. I think society sort of makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/i-don-t-understand-why-there-needs-to-be-a-love-interest-to-make/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) ## More by Ellen Swallow Richards > [The unwilling mind is not a teachable mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-swallow-richards/the-unwilling-mind-is-not-a-teachable-mind/) [Ellen Swallow Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-swallow-richards/) > [The world moves, but we seem to move with it. When I studied physiology beforethere were two hundred and eight bones in the body.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-swallow-richards/the-world-moves-but-we-seem-to-move-with-it-when-i-studied-physiology/) [Ellen Swallow Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-swallow-richards/) > [A sense of power is the most intoxicating stimulant a mortal can enjoy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-swallow-richards/a-sense-of-power-is-the-most-intoxicating-stimulant-a-mortal-can-enjoy/) [Ellen Swallow Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-swallow-richards/) > [I hope that I am winning a way which others will keep open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-swallow-richards/i-hope-that-i-am-winning-a-way-which-others-will-keep-open/) [Ellen Swallow Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-swallow-richards/) > [One of the greatest faults of the women of the present time is a silly fear of things, and one object of the education…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-swallow-richards/one-of-the-greatest-faults-of-the-women-of-the-present-time-is-a/) [Ellen Swallow Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-swallow-richards/) > [...all enjoyment is dependent upon the frailty of human life and human desires ... if we were to have all we want and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-swallow-richards/all-enjoyment-is-dependent-upon-the-frailty-of-human-life-and-human/) [Ellen Swallow Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-swallow-richards/) > [It is cruelty to children to keep five-year-olds sitting still, gazing into vacancy even for one hour at a time. We have little idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-swallow-richards/it-is-cruelty-to-children-to-keep-five-year-olds-sitting-still-gazing/) [Ellen Swallow Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-swallow-richards/) > [The most conventional customs cling to the table. Farmers who wouldn't drive a horse too hard expect pie three times a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-swallow-richards/the-most-conventional-customs-cling-to-the-table-farmers-who-wouldn-t/) [Ellen Swallow Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-swallow-richards/) > [ The Faculty \[of Vassar\] do not consider it a mere experiment any longer that girls can be educated as well as boys. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-swallow-richards/the-faculty-of-vassar-do-not-consider-it-a-mere-experiment-any-longer/) [Ellen Swallow Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-swallow-richards/) > [The well-educated young woman of 1950 will blend art and sciences in a way we do not dream of; the science will steady the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-swallow-richards/the-well-educated-young-woman-of-1950-will-blend-art-and-sciences-in/) [Ellen Swallow Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-swallow-richards/) > [It is cowardly to fly from natural duties and take up those that suit our taste or temperament better; but it is also unwise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-swallow-richards/it-is-cowardly-to-fly-from-natural-duties-and-take-up-those-that-suit/) [Ellen Swallow Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-swallow-richards/) > [I often think that all the difficulties we encounter only give us the more strength if we keep hold of our work, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-swallow-richards/i-often-think-that-all-the-difficulties-we-encounter-only-give-us-the/) [Ellen Swallow Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-swallow-richards/) > [I am succeeding quite well in my work and the future looks well. What special mission is God preparing me for? Cutting off all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-swallow-richards/i-am-succeeding-quite-well-in-my-work-and-the-future-looks-well-what/) [Ellen Swallow Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-swallow-richards/) > [Perhaps the fact that I am not a Radical or a believer in the all powerful ballot for women to right her wrongs and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-swallow-richards/perhaps-the-fact-that-i-am-not-a-radical-or-a-believer-in-the-all/) [Ellen Swallow Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-swallow-richards/) > [A political place with no power, only influence, is not to my taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-swallow-richards/a-political-place-with-no-power-only-influence-is-not-to-my-taste/) [Ellen Swallow Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-swallow-richards/) [Explore all 28 Ellen Swallow Richards quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-swallow-richards/) ## More Cleaning quotes > [We should get a Roomba for our Roomba. I feel bad for it because it works tirelessly, and at night I can hear it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-gosling/we-should-get-a-roomba-for-our-roomba-i-feel-bad-for-it-because-it/) [Ryan Gosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-gosling/) > [The government should set a goal for a clean environment but not mandate how that goal should be implemented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dixie-lee-ray/the-government-should-set-a-goal-for-a-clean-environment-but-not/) [Dixie Lee Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dixie-lee-ray/) > [The thought processes that go through my head when I'm playing a game compared to the thought processes in real life are very, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-romero/the-thought-processes-that-go-through-my-head-when-i-m-playing-a-game/) [John Romero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-romero/) > [My mother worked as a maid, cleaning the fraternity dorm of the local college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/my-mother-worked-as-a-maid-cleaning-the-fraternity-dorm-of-the-local/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [Western doctors are like poor plumbers. They treat a splashing tub by cleaning up the water. These plumbers are extremely apt at drying up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-parsons-burkitt/western-doctors-are-like-poor-plumbers-they-treat-a-splashing-tub-by/) [Denis Parsons Burkitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-parsons-burkitt/) > [A lot of people approach their barn or horse like they are going to war, because it's been going badly. So you pick up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-meehl/a-lot-of-people-approach-their-barn-or-horse-like-they-are-going-to/) Cindy Meehl > [“The house was clean, scrubbed and immaculate, curtains washed, windows polished, but all as a man does it - the ironed curtains did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/the-house-was-clean-scrubbed-and-immaculate-curtains-washed-windows/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [He's getting dumped. And he doesn't even know it yet. He's probably eating a cheeseburger or flossing or picking up his dry cleaning, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/he-s-getting-dumped-and-he-doesn-t-even-know-it-yet-he-s-probably/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [ I don't know that Brandy \[Burre\] would ever categorize herself as being trapped, but I felt like I saw her being trapped. When she's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/i-don-t-know-that-brandy-burre-would-ever-categorize-herself-as-being/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [“For those who set out to clean the dirt of the world, the best broom is their own clean morals, because you can't clean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/for-those-who-set-out-to-clean-the-dirt-of-the-world-the-best-broom/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [ Any small business owner wears many hats. We \[New View Window Cleaning\] are the salesman, bookkeeper, scheduler, cleaner, customer complaint department, etc. If you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-evans/any-small-business-owner-wears-many-hats-we-new-view-window-cleaning/) [Tony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-evans/) > [There's times when I'm cleaning the kitchen, and while I'm doing that, I'm singing and air guitaring with a broom to 'You Should Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-taylor/there-s-times-when-i-m-cleaning-the-kitchen-and-while-i-m-doing-that/) [Corey Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-taylor/) > ['Washio' provides laundry and dry cleaning on demand. They pick it up, clean it, and return it within 24 hours - and often with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yael-cohen/washio-provides-laundry-and-dry-cleaning-on-demand-they-pick-it-up/) [Yael Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yael-cohen/) > [Anybody and everybody's going to get it. I'm not racing through my division. I'm cleaning it out. So if you want two L's, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-holloway/anybody-and-everybody-s-going-to-get-it-i-m-not-racing-through-my/) [Max Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-holloway/) > [The 6th of August in the morning we saw an opening in the land and we ran into it, and anchored in 7 and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-dampier/the-6th-of-august-in-the-morning-we-saw-an-opening-in-the-land-and-we/) [William Dampier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-dampier/) Browse all 651 Cleaning quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You cannot make women contented with cooking and cleaning and you need not try.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ellen Swallow Richards" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-swallow-richards/you-cannot-make-women-contented-with-cooking-and-cleaning-and-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cleaning" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-swallow-richards/you-cannot-make-women-contented-with-cooking-and-cleaning-and-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/112/ellen-swallow-richards-22099_cleaning_you-cannot-make-women-contented-with-coo_866604.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/112/ellen-swallow-richards-22099_cleaning_you-cannot-make-women-contented-with-coo_866604.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/112/ellen-swallow-richards-22099_cleaning_you-cannot-make-women-contented-with-coo_866604.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You cannot make women contented with cooking and cleaning and you need not try.” — Ellen Swallow Richards", "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": "Ellen Swallow Richards", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-swallow-richards/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You cannot make women contented with...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-swallow-richards/you-cannot-make-women-contented-with-cooking-and-cleaning-and-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-swallow-richards/you-cannot-make-women-contented-with-cooking-and-cleaning-and-you/#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 } } ] } ```