Marriage Quote by Erica Jong
““Here is the difference between Oscar Wilde and me. For all the tortures he suffered, for all the ugliness of being punished for loving men, nobody read his lines and asked him: What does your husband think of that? Jail, exile -- these were his lot. But never, What does your husband think? Women may have the vote, but they are not free as long as that reaction erupts. Even those without husbands are judged as if they had offended them merely by writing the truth. So immovable is the wall around a woman's freedom that she can't do a things without being asked to think of its effect upon some man who is presumed to be more important than she.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Woman Who Walked Into the Sea, 1975
Societal expectations force women to seek male approval for their choices, limiting freedom despite legal rights, and creating an invisible barrier to true autonomy.
In simple terms: Women are judged by men’s opinions, restricting their freedom even when they have rights.
Key Takeaway
Challenge the need for male validation and claim independent agency.
Themes
gender
freedom
societal pressure
feminism
Mood
determined
reflective
critical
Type
feminist
social commentary
When to use this quote
- workplace decisions
- personal relationships
- political activism
Key Concepts
Patriarchal norms
internalized oppression
autonomy
Questions to Reflect On
- What would happen if women stopped asking “What does my husband think?”
- How can societies dismantle invisible barriers?
A Different Perspective
Change is slow; cultural norms resist individual rebellion.
![“I don't like being away from home. That's one reason why I don't work as much as I used to [when I started my career], because so many things are on the road. I just don't want to be away from my husband, my dogs and my home. I don't sing that much any more because that also takes you on the road.” quote by Jane Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/07c/jane-powell-36243_away-from-home_i-don-t-like-being-away-from-home-that-s_278.jpg)
