--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The original languages didn't even have…" description: "\"The original languages didn't even have he and she. They didn't have concepts of masculine and feminine. People were people. And the whole idea was tha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d56/gloria-steinem-277_circles_the-original-languages-didn-t-even-have_209378.jpg" --- # The original languages didn't even have he and she. They… ![“The original languages didn't even have he and she. They didn't have concepts of masculine and feminine. People were people. And the whole idea was that we were in a circle together, not in a hierarchy together.” quote by Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d56/gloria-steinem-277_circles_the-original-languages-didn-t-even-have_209378.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d56/gloria-steinem-277_circles_the-original-languages-didn-t-even-have_209378.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d56/gloria-steinem-277_circles_the-original-languages-didn-t-even-have_209378.jpg) > “The original languages didn't even have he and she. They didn't have concepts of masculine and feminine. People were people. And the whole idea was that we were in a circle together, not in a hierarchy together.” [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Language historically lacked gendered pronouns, reflecting a view of people as equal without hierarchical gender roles. **In simple terms:** Old languages were gender neutral, showing people were seen as equal. Key Takeaway Recognize and challenge gender hierarchies. Themes gender equality language social hierarchy identity feminism Mood reflective critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education curricula - policy drafting - media representation - community discussions Key Concepts gender construct social equality linguistic relativity Questions to Reflect On - How does language shape our perception of gender? - Can we create truly gender-neutral communication? A Different Perspective Modern language still embeds gender bias despite historical neutrality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Circles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circles/) [Feminine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminine/) [Hierarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hierarchy/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Masculine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masculine/) [Masculine and feminine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masculine-and-feminine/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [I would put all the efforts to humanize the "masculine" and "feminine" gender roles that are the beginning of a false human hierarchy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/i-would-put-all-the-efforts-to-humanize-the-masculine-and-feminine/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [I think of masculine and feminine energy like two sides to a battery. There's a plus side and a minus side, and in order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-mcmillan/i-think-of-masculine-and-feminine-energy-like-two-sides-to-a-battery/) [Tracy McMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-mcmillan/) > [We are nearly all composed of such a complex mixture of human qualities that in each one of us reside both masculine and feminine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-clifford-barney/we-are-nearly-all-composed-of-such-a-complex-mixture-of-human/) [Natalie Clifford Barney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-clifford-barney/) > [Each one of us needs to discover the proper balance between the masculine and feminine energies, between the active and the receptive. (104)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-ravindra/each-one-of-us-needs-to-discover-the-proper-balance-between-the/) [Ravi Ravindra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-ravindra/) > [You can get too heavy on the masculine side of things with all of the action, but then we've got a really nice balance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-brammell/you-can-get-too-heavy-on-the-masculine-side-of-things-with-all-of-the/) [Abby Brammell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-brammell/) > [I definitely believe that we really need to stop putting things in masculine and feminine boxes and realize that men and women both contain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelly-furtado/i-definitely-believe-that-we-really-need-to-stop-putting-things-in/) [Nelly Furtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelly-furtado/) > [I'm interested in dismantling the distinction between masculine and feminine writing both because I think it's a false distinction and, I think, ultimately an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-kitamura/i-m-interested-in-dismantling-the-distinction-between-masculine-and/) [Katie Kitamura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-kitamura/) > [“At all events what Ransom saw at that moment was the real meaning of gender. Everyone must sometimes have wondered why in nearly all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/at-all-events-what-ransom-saw-at-that-moment-was-the-real-meaning-of/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [It's still feminine, but not in a romantic way. It's all about masculine and feminine, and being strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miuccia-prada/it-s-still-feminine-but-not-in-a-romantic-way-it-s-all-about/) [Miuccia Prada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miuccia-prada/) > [“The difference between the masculine and feminine spiritual constitution is represented by their respective roles in reproduction. The man is the giver while the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chana-weisberg/the-difference-between-the-masculine-and-feminine-spiritual/) Chana Weisberg > [There's something about the Strat's shape that is at once masculine and feminine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-raitt/there-s-something-about-the-strat-s-shape-that-is-at-once-masculine/) [Bonnie Raitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-raitt/) > [A real woman understands that man was created to be the initiator, and she operates on that premise. This is primarily a matter of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-elliot/a-real-woman-understands-that-man-was-created-to-be-the-initiator-and/) [Elisabeth Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-elliot/) > [Ideally, people find mates with whom they can express both their masculine and feminine sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-bakula/ideally-people-find-mates-with-whom-they-can-express-both-their/) [Scott Bakula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-bakula/) > [Masculine and feminine roles are not biologically fixed but socially constructed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-butler/masculine-and-feminine-roles-are-not-biologically-fixed-but-socially/) [Judith Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-butler/) > [The world in the past has been ruled by force, and man has dominated over woman by reason of his more forceful and aggressive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdu-l-bah/the-world-in-the-past-has-been-ruled-by-force-and-man-has-dominated/) [Abdu'l-Bahá](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdu-l-bah/) ## More by Gloria Steinem > [People waste more time waiting for someone to take charge of their lives than they do in any other pursuit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/people-waste-more-time-waiting-for-someone-to-take-charge-of-their/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [Nothing will happen automatically. Change depends on what you and I do every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/nothing-will-happen-automatically-change-depends-on-what-you-and-i-do/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [Women are never again going to be mindless coffee-makers or mindless policy-makers in politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/women-are-never-again-going-to-be-mindless-coffee-makers-or-mindless/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [The state of female artists is very good. But the very definition of art has been biased in that 'art' was what men did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/the-state-of-female-artists-is-very-good-but-the-very-definition-of/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [We will live to see the day that St. Patrick's Cathedral is a child-care center and the pope is no longer a disgrace to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/we-will-live-to-see-the-day-that-st-patrick-s-cathedral-is-a-child/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [Just when you thought multi-nationals and crazed consumerism were too big to fight, along comes Naomi Klein with facts, spirit, and news of successful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/just-when-you-thought-multi-nationals-and-crazed-consumerism-were-too/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [I don't know Beyoncé, but I have the impression that she's sincere, that she really is a feminist and wanted to put the word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/i-don-t-know-beyonc-but-i-have-the-impression-that-she-s-sincere-that/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [I started out life as a writer, and writers write in part because they don't want to talk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/i-started-out-life-as-a-writer-and-writers-write-in-part-because-they/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [Proust's tea cake has nothing on one hour in a college dorm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/proust-s-tea-cake-has-nothing-on-one-hour-in-a-college-dorm/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [Sadomasochiasm - which we know very well doesn't exist in societies that don't have child abuse - is regarded some sort of natural sexual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/sadomasochiasm-which-we-know-very-well-doesn-t-exist-in-societies/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [Behave like everything you do matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/behave-like-everything-you-do-matters/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [“Part of traveling over years means coming back to the same place and knowing it for the first time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/part-of-traveling-over-years-means-coming-back-to-the-same-place-and/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [If you say, I'm for equal pay, that's a reform. But if you say. I'm a feminist, that's a transformation of society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/if-you-say-i-m-for-equal-pay-that-s-a-reform-but-if-you-say-i-m-a/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [I think that part of everybody's success is due to their looks, but it just works in different ways. If you're whatever society calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/i-think-that-part-of-everybody-s-success-is-due-to-their-looks-but-it/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [Of course, we can change. We're very adaptable. But it takes a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/of-course-we-can-change-we-re-very-adaptable-but-it-takes-a-while/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) [Explore all 766 Gloria Steinem quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) ## More Circles quotes > [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/) [Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/) > [Gambling has held human beings in thrall for millennia. 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Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-l-bernstein/) > [And the seasons they go 'round and 'round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/and-the-seasons-they-go-round-and-round-and-the-painted-ponies-go-up/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [If, for instance, they have heard something from the postman, they attribute it to a semi-official statement; if they have fallen into conversation with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/if-for-instance-they-have-heard-something-from-the-postman-they/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [Maybe this is a way of gaslighting myself, but I think of it this way: In certain circles, my grandpa was considered to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/maybe-this-is-a-way-of-gaslighting-myself-but-i-think-of-it-this-way/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) > [All my life's a circle; But I can't tell you why; Season's spinning round again; The years keep rollin' by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-chapin/all-my-life-s-a-circle-but-i-can-t-tell-you-why-season-s-spinning/) [Harry Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-chapin/) > [There's when a phrase circles in my head in a number of ways for any number of days, weeks, or months, and then that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mangan/there-s-when-a-phrase-circles-in-my-head-in-a-number-of-ways-for-any/) [Dan Mangan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mangan/) > [I have no name for what circles so perfectly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/i-have-no-name-for-what-circles-so-perfectly/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [It's important to recognize that expanding the circle of opportunity and increasing the democratic potential of our own society, as well as those across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/it-s-important-to-recognize-that-expanding-the-circle-of-opportunity/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [The fight against syphilis demands a fight against prostitution, against prejudices, old habits, against previous conceptions, general views among them not least the false…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-fight-against-syphilis-demands-a-fight-against-prostitution/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [Tell them you came, and saw, and looked into my eyes and saw the shadow of the guard receding. 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Guys would drink and fight one another like circle saws.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-armstrong/the-brick-house-was-one-of-the-toughest-joints-i-ever-played-in-guys/) [Louis Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-armstrong/) [Browse all 1,860 Circles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circles/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The original languages didn't even have he and she. They didn't have concepts of masculine and feminine. People were people. 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