Accentuate Quote by Emma Goldman
“Few countries have produced such arrogance and snobbishness as America. Particularly is this true of the American woman of the middle class. She not only considers herself the equal of man, but his superior, especially in her purity, goodness, and morality. Small wonder that the American suffragist claims for her vote the most miraculous powers. In her exalted conceit she does not see how truly enslaved she is, not so much by man, as by her own silly notions and traditions. Suffrage can not ameliorate that sad fact; it can only accentuate it, as indeed it does.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Social Significance of the Woman Question", 1910
American middle‑class women claim moral superiority while remaining trapped by their own restrictive notions, limiting true emancipation.
In simple terms: Women’s self‑imposed limits hinder real freedom.
Key Takeaway
Challenge internalized norms to achieve genuine equality.
Themes
gender
class
freedom
Mood
critical
provocative
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- activism
- education
- policy reform
- personal development
Key Concepts
social construct
self‑imposed oppression
Questions to Reflect On
- What beliefs limit your freedom?
- How can you support others in breaking similar constraints?
A Different Perspective
Changing deep‑seated beliefs is a slow, often resisted process.
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