--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was young and less wise, I thought…" description: "\"When I was young and less wise, I thought that being a feminist meant being independent. It meant not sacrificing your needs for anyone else's and not ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/203/emily-v-gordon-6224_being_when-i-was-young-and-less-wise-i-thought_2493297.jpg" --- # When I was young and less wise, I thought that being a… ![“When I was young and less wise, I thought that being a feminist meant being independent. It meant not sacrificing your needs for anyone else's and not relying on anyone else for even a smidgen of your happiness or well being.” quote by Emily V. Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/203/emily-v-gordon-6224_being_when-i-was-young-and-less-wise-i-thought_2493297.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/203/emily-v-gordon-6224_being_when-i-was-young-and-less-wise-i-thought_2493297.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/203/emily-v-gordon-6224_being_when-i-was-young-and-less-wise-i-thought_2493297.jpg) > “When I was young and less wise, I thought that being a feminist meant being independent. It meant not sacrificing your needs for anyone else's and not relying on anyone else for even a smidgen of your happiness or well being.” [Emily V. Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-v-gordon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reflects on a youthful misunderstanding of feminism as purely self‑reliance, missing its broader social and collective dimensions. **In simple terms:** Feminism is more than just personal independence. Key Takeaway Recognize feminism’s communal goals. Themes feminism self‑reliance growth Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal relationships - activism - career decisions - family dynamics Key Concepts individualism collectivism social justice Questions to Reflect On - How does personal independence intersect with collective responsibility? - What aspects of feminism are overlooked when focusing only on self‑reliance? A Different Perspective Feminism also involves solidarity and systemic change, not just personal autonomy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Feminist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminist/) [Feminist Meant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminist-meant-986185/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Independent Meant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independent-meant-986187/) [Meant Independent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meant-independent-986188/) [Thought Feminist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-feminist-986186/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) ## Related quotes > [I grew up in a world where authority was female. I never thought to call myself a feminist because of branding. 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Can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/in-2001-we-were-told-that-the-war-in-afghanistan-was-a-feminist/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Black women's intersectional experiences of racism and sexism have been a central but forgotten dynamic in the unfolding of feminist and antiracist agendas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/black-women-s-intersectional-experiences-of-racism-and-sexism-have/) [Kimberle Williams Crenshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberle-williams-crenshaw/) > [Women have seen that they have locked themselves up with feminist writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalie-sarraute/women-have-seen-that-they-have-locked-themselves-up-with-feminist/) [Nathalie Sarraute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalie-sarraute/) > [“If attempting to make the world a civilized one, makes you a bad woman in the eyes of the dumb patriarchal society, then, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-attempting-to-make-the-world-a-civilized-one-makes-you-a-bad-woman/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) ## More by Emily V. 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