Bathtub Quote by Erica Jong
“I thought of the nameless inventor of the bathtub. I was somehow sure it was a woman. And was the inventor of the bathtub plug a man?”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Woman Who Knew Too Much, 1992
Reflects on gender assumptions in historical invention narratives, questioning bias in attribution.
In simple terms: We often assume men invented things.
Key Takeaway
Question gender bias in history.
Themes
gender bias
history
invention
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
analytical
reflective
When to use this quote
- education curricula
- museum exhibits
- media representation
Key Concepts
feminist critique
historical revisionism
Questions to Reflect On
- Who else might be misattributed?
- How can we correct historical records?
A Different Perspective
May overlook contributions of women.
![“[On William Lyon Phelps's Happiness:] It is second only to a rubber duck as the ideal bathtub companion. It may be held in the hand without causing muscular fatigue ... and it may be read through before the water has cooled. And if it slips down the drain pipe, all right, it slips down the drain…” quote by Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8fc/dorothy-parker-700_bathtubs_on-william-lyon-phelps-s-happiness-it-is_1940558.jpg)
