Beauty Quote by Erica Jong
““And what about ageing? Do men force the fear of ageing upon us -- or are we ourselves terrified because we only know one kind of power -- the power of youthful beauty? Isn't it possible that if we became comfortable with other forms of female power, men might too? In her wonderful futurist novel, He, She, and It, Marge Piercy imagines a cyborg who is taught to love the bodies of older women. A delicious proposal -- because it tells that whatever we may imagine can come true. Women often hate their own bodies. Sometimes I think that the most important things about having at least one relationship with someone of your own gender -- especially if you are a woman -- is to confront the female self-hatred and turn it into self-love.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Future of Female Power” in The New Yorker, 1998
True power lies beyond youth; embracing diverse female strengths can reshape gender dynamics.
In simple terms: Power isn’t only youthful beauty.
Key Takeaway
Embrace varied female power.
Themes
gender
self‑love
body image
aging
feminism
Mood
thoughtful
inspirational
critical
Type
essay
philosophical
When to use this quote
- aging women
- body‑positive movements
- literary analysis
Key Concepts
intersectionality
empowerment
cyberfeminism
Questions to Reflect On
- What forms of power can older women claim?
- How can society value non‑youthful femininity?
A Different Perspective
Societal pressure often limits acceptance of older women’s power.
