--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For a long time, way back in the ’30s and…" description: "\"For a long time, way back in the ’30s and ’40s, there were fabulous female roles. Bette Davis and all those people had incredible, great roles. After W..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f42/geena-davis-2583_bette-davis_for-a-long-time-way-back-in-the-30s-and_2338628.jpg" --- # For a long time, way back in the ’30s and ’40s, there were… ![“For a long time, way back in the ’30s and ’40s, there were fabulous female roles. Bette Davis and all those people had incredible, great roles. After World War II, something happened where it was not only "get out of the factories," but "get out of the movies." That's when women's roles started to…” quote by Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f42/geena-davis-2583_bette-davis_for-a-long-time-way-back-in-the-30s-and_2338628.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f42/geena-davis-2583_bette-davis_for-a-long-time-way-back-in-the-30s-and_2338628.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f42/geena-davis-2583_bette-davis_for-a-long-time-way-back-in-the-30s-and_2338628.jpg) > “For a long time, way back in the ’30s and ’40s, there were fabulous female roles. Bette Davis and all those people had incredible, great roles. After World War II, something happened where it was not only "get out of the factories," but "get out of the movies." That's when women's roles started to really \[change\].” [Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Female actors once enjoyed complex, powerful roles, but post‑war shifts reduced opportunities and depth for women in cinema. **In simple terms:** Women’s film roles declined after WWII, limiting strong characters. Key Takeaway Advocate for richer, diverse roles for women. Themes gender film industry representation history Mood determined hopeful critical Type motivational analytical inspirational When to use this quote - casting decisions - screenwriting workshops - advocacy campaigns Key Concepts feminist theory media studies career dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What barriers still limit women’s roles? - How can audiences support better representation? A Different Perspective Industry change is gradual and faces entrenched biases. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bette davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bette-davis/) [Fabulous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fabulous/) [Factories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/factories/) [Female](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/female/) [Female roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/female-roles/) [Great Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-roles/) [Happened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happened/) [Incredibles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incredibles/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles/) [Roles Bette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles-bette-5652024/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War of the worlds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-of-the-worlds/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Women 's roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women-s-roles/) [Women Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women-roles-1615204/) [Women'S Roles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women-s-roles-2/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-war/) [World war i](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-war-i/) [World war ii](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-war-ii/) ## Related quotes > [What I really want to do is create great roles for women. And I'm not talking Nicholas Sparks romance. I think women's roles have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-rosenberg/what-i-really-want-to-do-is-create-great-roles-for-women-and-i-m-not/) [Melissa Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-rosenberg/) > [ That's the really frustrating thing, but also the fixable thing. My theory why no one notices is that that's the \[women's roles\] ratio thing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/that-s-the-really-frustrating-thing-but-also-the-fixable-thing-my/) [Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/) > [Women's roles are diminished for obvious reasons. It's the men whose names are on the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, and who were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cokie-roberts/women-s-roles-are-diminished-for-obvious-reasons-it-s-the-men-whose/) [Cokie Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cokie-roberts/) > [The good news is that women's roles have changed so dramatically over the past three decades that women now expect to have careers, balance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kimmel/the-good-news-is-that-women-s-roles-have-changed-so-dramatically-over/) [Michael Kimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kimmel/) > [Why, in the Peking Opera, are women's roles played by men?...Because only a man knows how a woman is supposed to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-henry-hwang/why-in-the-peking-opera-are-women-s-roles-played-by-men-because-only/) [David Henry Hwang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-henry-hwang/) > [I think, certainly in the more civilized societies, women's roles are growing in power all of the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-quinn/i-think-certainly-in-the-more-civilized-societies-women-s-roles-are/) [Sally Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-quinn/) > [I feel there is no shortage of real interesting women's roles. But I found them and did all of them just now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-gyllenhaal/i-feel-there-is-no-shortage-of-real-interesting-women-s-roles-but-i/) [Maggie Gyllenhaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-gyllenhaal/) > [Real equality in films is going to take time and will directly reflect our society. So ladies, please speak up at home, at work,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-crampton/real-equality-in-films-is-going-to-take-time-and-will-directly/) [Barbara Crampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-crampton/) > [I single handedly revolutionised women's roles in the WWE, before me all women were eye candy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-dumas/i-single-handedly-revolutionised-women-s-roles-in-the-wwe-before-me/) [Amy Dumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-dumas/) > [Within the various acts of the ecodrama should be included scenes in which men's and women's roles come to center stage and scenes in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-merchant/within-the-various-acts-of-the-ecodrama-should-be-included-scenes-in/) [Carolyn Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-merchant/) > [When I work with filmmakers today, I'm really an advocate for the women's roles that I see, to make them as layered and as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-crampton/when-i-work-with-filmmakers-today-i-m-really-an-advocate-for-the/) [Barbara Crampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-crampton/) > [Women's roles in the movies remain, for the most part, girlfriends, mothers, wives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-traister/women-s-roles-in-the-movies-remain-for-the-most-part-girlfriends/) [Rebecca Traister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-traister/) > [There are some great women's roles in television... so much more interesting than what I was reading in film scripts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-otto/there-are-some-great-women-s-roles-in-television-so-much-more/) [Miranda Otto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-otto/) > [When I started in the theater, I'd do plays by Shakespeare or Ibsen or Chekhov, and they all created great women's roles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/when-i-started-in-the-theater-i-d-do-plays-by-shakespeare-or-ibsen-or/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [“Yes, there are passages in Scripture—especially in Paul’s epistles—about women’s roles. But it is biblically untenable and soul crushing to tell a woman that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elyse-m-fitzpatrick/yes-there-are-passages-in-scripture-especially-in-paul-s-epistles/) [Elyse M. Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elyse-m-fitzpatrick/) ## More by Geena Davis > [In advertisements for your favorite products, are women denigrated or objectified in some way? All of that is important. I would rewrite my kids'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/in-advertisements-for-your-favorite-products-are-women-denigrated-or/) [Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/) > [Women are in many ways second-class citizens in the United States in 2016, because of the way that we're portrayed in popular culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/women-are-in-many-ways-second-class-citizens-in-the-united-states-in/) [Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/) > [Rosie knows how to play ball. She's an athlete, for sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/rosie-knows-how-to-play-ball-she-s-an-athlete-for-sure/) [Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/) > [I'm very competitive, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/i-m-very-competitive-i-think/) [Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/) > [Film roles really did start to dry up when I got into my 40s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/film-roles-really-did-start-to-dry-up-when-i-got-into-my-40s/) [Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/) > [You can't snap your fingers, and suddenly half of Congress is women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/you-can-t-snap-your-fingers-and-suddenly-half-of-congress-is-women/) [Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/) > [On film, you can't do it over again. And you do have to stop shooting at a certain point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/on-film-you-can-t-do-it-over-again-and-you-do-have-to-stop-shooting/) [Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/) > [I remember when 'A League of Their Own' was coming out in '92, when I was doing interviews, it seemed like every interviewer at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/i-remember-when-a-league-of-their-own-was-coming-out-in-92-when-i-was/) [Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/) > [Behind the cameras, there's a different problem, which I think is not unconscious gender bias. It's probably categorized more as conscious gender bias. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/behind-the-cameras-there-s-a-different-problem-which-i-think-is-not/) [Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/) > [I was so tall in high school that I was convinced that I was uncoordinated and not athletic. I was terrified to play any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/i-was-so-tall-in-high-school-that-i-was-convinced-that-i-was/) [Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/) > [We all know the huge problem there is with entertainment in general leaving out women. Especially as actors, we know there are fewer great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/we-all-know-the-huge-problem-there-is-with-entertainment-in-general/) [Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/) > [ That's the really frustrating thing, but also the fixable thing. My theory why no one notices is that that's the \[women's roles\] ratio thing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/that-s-the-really-frustrating-thing-but-also-the-fixable-thing-my/) [Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/) > [I watch very little television, actually. There's so many shows I want to watch and then I know I'll get hooked and I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/i-watch-very-little-television-actually-there-s-so-many-shows-i-want/) [Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/) > [I never intended to become a data head. I could never have predicted it would play such an important role in my life. Yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/i-never-intended-to-become-a-data-head-i-could-never-have-predicted/) [Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/) > [They called and said, "I know we're not supposed to even tell you, but you've been offered to play the President." And I said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/they-called-and-said-i-know-we-re-not-supposed-to-even-tell-you-but/) [Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/) [Explore all 159 Geena Davis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/) ## More Bette davis quotes > [I was supposedly named after the Bette Davis character in 'The Letter' by my sister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-uggams/i-was-supposedly-named-after-the-bette-davis-character-in-the-letter/) [Leslie Uggams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-uggams/) > [I adore Bette Davis and Vivien Leigh, but more because they were good actresses. That's what makes me interested in them, that they didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-staunton/i-adore-bette-davis-and-vivien-leigh-but-more-because-they-were-good/) [Imelda Staunton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-staunton/) > [I could never understand the attraction of Bette Davis. I always preferred Jane Russell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-griffiths/i-could-never-understand-the-attraction-of-bette-davis-i-always/) [Richard Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-griffiths/) > [I think that the work that Bette Davis and Joan Crawford did was truly extraordinary, and that's their legacy. Not the other petty stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-murphy/i-think-that-the-work-that-bette-davis-and-joan-crawford-did-was/) [Ryan Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-murphy/) > [Bette davis was one tough bitch!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-stone/bette-davis-was-one-tough-bitch/) [Sharon Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-stone/) > [Even as a kid, I was more enchanted watching Bette Davis than Errol Flynn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lagravenese/even-as-a-kid-i-was-more-enchanted-watching-bette-davis-than-errol/) [Richard LaGravenese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lagravenese/) > [ “We worked so hard,” \[Joan Blondell\] said, “and hardly ever had a day off . . . Saturday was a working day and we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-golden/we-worked-so-hard-joan-blondell-said-and-hardly-ever-had-a-day-off/) [Eve Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-golden/) > [Oh, yes, we were on location with Another Man's Poison, which I wrote for Bette Davis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/oh-yes-we-were-on-location-with-another-man-s-poison-which-i-wrote/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [I'd love to play a femme fatale in a film noir. I'm thinking of one of those roles that Lauren Bacall or Bette Davis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-quick/i-d-love-to-play-a-femme-fatale-in-a-film-noir-i-m-thinking-of-one-of/) [Diana Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-quick/) > [ “\[joan crawford\] slept with every male star at MGM, except lassie. \[joan crawford\] ha dormito con ogni star maschile della MGM, eccetto lassie.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/joan-crawford-slept-with-every-male-star-at-mgm-except-lassie-joan/) [bette davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/) > [I mean, I see the old interviews with Bette Davis or Joan Crawford, these characters clawed their way up - what stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-carr/i-mean-i-see-the-old-interviews-with-bette-davis-or-joan-crawford/) [Alan Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-carr/) > [Look, you're either loved or hated. Which is a good thing, as Bette Davis used to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cantone/look-you-re-either-loved-or-hated-which-is-a-good-thing-as-bette/) [Mario Cantone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cantone/) > [It's more interesting to put yourself in the place of Bette Davis than Irene Dunne, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-busch/it-s-more-interesting-to-put-yourself-in-the-place-of-bette-davis/) [Charles Busch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-busch/) > [She's got Greta Garbo's standoff sighs, she's got Bette Davis eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-carnes/she-s-got-greta-garbo-s-standoff-sighs-she-s-got-bette-davis-eyes/) [Kim Carnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-carnes/) > [“When I heard the gunshots, though, I knew - knew beyond the shadow of a doubt - that somewhere in Los Angeles Bette Davis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-valley/when-i-heard-the-gunshots-though-i-knew-knew-beyond-the-shadow-of-a/) [Richard Valley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-valley/) [Browse all 63 Bette davis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bette-davis/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For a long time, way back in the ’30s and ’40s, there were fabulous female roles. 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