Age Quote by Emily James Smith Putnam
“the lady is almost the only picturesque survival in a social order which tends less and less to tolerate the exceptional. ... In the age-long war between men and women, she is a hostage in the enemy's camp. Her fortunes do not rise and fall with those of women but with those of men.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Women in Society, 1905
Women are the sole attractive survivors in a society that increasingly rejects exceptionality, becoming pawns in male-dominated power struggles.
In simple terms: Women are valued only for their looks in a hostile social order.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge gendered expectations.
Themes
gender inequality
social hierarchy
exceptionality
survival
Mood
reflective
critical
empathetic
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- workplace dynamics
- media representation
- personal relationships
- policy making
Key Concepts
patriarchy
objectification
social critique
Questions to Reflect On
- In what ways do women assert power beyond appearance?
- How can societies value diverse forms of exceptionality?
A Different Perspective
The view may overlook women's agency and diverse contributions beyond appearance.
![“If woman had no existence save in the fiction written by men, one would imagine her a person of the utmost importance (...); as great as a man, some think even greater. But this is woman in fiction. In fact, as Professor Trevelyan points out [in his History of England ], she was locked up, beaten…” quote by Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/755/virginia-woolf-49_abuse_if-woman-had-no-existence-save-in-the-fi_1851263.jpg)
![“In contemporary society [the typical lady] is an archaism, and can't hardly understand herself unless she knows her own history.” quote by Emily James Smith Putnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f7e/emily-james-smith-putnam-39021_contemporary_in-contemporary-society-the-typical-lady_1874870.jpg)
