Be a man Quote by Gloria Steinem
“In almost any situation, if you have been the powerful one, which would tend to be men more than women but not always, it's very important to listen as much as you talk. If you have been the less powerful one, it's very important to talk as much as you listen.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on gender dynamics, 1990s
Power dynamics require balanced communication: the powerful should listen more, the less powerful should speak more to foster equity.
In simple terms: Listen more if powerful, speak more if less powerful.
Key Takeaway
Adjust communication based on power to promote fairness.
Themes
gender
communication
power
equity
Mood
thoughtful
balanced
Type
advice
reflective
When to use this quote
- leadership meetings
- team discussions
- negotiations
- personal relationships
- advocacy events
Key Concepts
social dynamics
active listening
assertiveness
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you tell when you hold more power?
- What strategies help the less powerful voice their views?
A Different Perspective
May be hard to gauge power accurately in mixed groups.
![“They [dogs] never talk about themselves but listen to you while you talk about yourself, and keep up an appearance of being interested in the conversation.” quote by Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1c0/jerome-k-jerome-1155_about-yourself_they-dogs-never-talk-about-themselves-bu_76454.jpg)
