Autonomous Quote by Gloria Steinem
“When you stand up for yourself and try to be autonomous and self-determining, you're called a lot of names that we all know and that are very common. You may lose your job. You may lose custody of your child. You may be blamed for the failure of your marriage even though it was the man who couldn't tolerate an equal relationship.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Gloria Steinem on Feminism, 1995
Standing up for autonomy often invites criticism and personal loss, reflecting societal resistance to equality.
In simple terms: Being independent can bring backlash and hardship.
Key Takeaway
Expect resistance when asserting equality.
Themes
feminism
autonomy
social pressure
gender equality
Mood
defiant
reflective
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- workplace
- parenting
- marriage
- career decisions
- advocacy
Key Concepts
empowerment
identity
structural inequality
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance self-determination with relational responsibilities?
- What support systems can mitigate the costs of autonomy?
A Different Perspective
Not all pushback is unjust; some concerns may be legitimate.
![“[As] authorities "over" us are removed, as we wobble out on our own, the question of whether to be or not to be arises with real relevance for the first time, since the burden of being is felt most fully by the self-determining self.” quote by William H. Gass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/13d/william-h-gass-4166_arise_as-authorities-over-us-are-removed-as-we_3102542.jpg)
