--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Women ... have long been discouraged from…" description: "\"Women ... have long been discouraged from the awareness and forthright expression of anger. Sugar and spice are the ingredients from which we are made...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1da/harriet-lerner-4248_anger_women-have-long-been-discouraged-from-th_1136164.jpg" --- # Women ... have long been discouraged from the awareness… ![“Women ... have long been discouraged from the awareness and forthright expression of anger. Sugar and spice are the ingredients from which we are made. We are the nurturers, the soothers, the peacemakers, and the steadiers of rocked boats.” quote by Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1da/harriet-lerner-4248_anger_women-have-long-been-discouraged-from-th_1136164.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1da/harriet-lerner-4248_anger_women-have-long-been-discouraged-from-th_1136164.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1da/harriet-lerner-4248_anger_women-have-long-been-discouraged-from-th_1136164.jpg) > “Women ... have long been discouraged from the awareness and forthright expression of anger. Sugar and spice are the ingredients from which we are made. We are the nurturers, the soothers, the peacemakers, and the steadiers of rocked boats.” [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Societal norms often suppress women’s open expression of anger, encouraging them toward nurturing roles instead. **In simple terms:** Women are often discouraged from openly expressing anger, pushed toward nurturing. Key Takeaway Recognize and validate anger as a healthy emotion. Themes gender emotions social expectations Mood reflective empowering Type psychological motivational When to use this quote - workplace - family dynamics - personal growth Key Concepts anger expression gender roles Questions to Reflect On - What would happen if women freely expressed anger? - How can we reframe anger as constructive? A Different Perspective Suppressing anger can lead to resentment and health issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) [Anger Sugar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger-sugar-3145066/) [Awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awareness/) [Boat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boat/) [Discouraged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discouraged/) [Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) [Expression Anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression-anger-1153664/) [Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Ingredients](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ingredients/) [Ingredients Nurturers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ingredients-nurturers-3145067/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Peacemaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peacemaker/) [Spices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spices/) [Sugar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sugar/) [Sugar Spice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sugar-spice-514758/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/) ## Related quotes > [That's what love is made of, snakes, snails, and puppy dog tails, sugar, spice, and everything nice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smokey-robinson/that-s-what-love-is-made-of-snakes-snails-and-puppy-dog-tails-sugar/) [Smokey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smokey-robinson/) > [The demons wanted girls. Sugar and Spice and everything nice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berkowitz/the-demons-wanted-girls-sugar-and-spice-and-everything-nice/) [David Berkowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berkowitz/) > [“Also, Swedes are often reluctant to express strong emotions, including anger or disapproval, a theme that emerges in many areas of Swedish culture. An…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-johansson-robinowitz/also-swedes-are-often-reluctant-to-express-strong-emotions-including/) [Christina Johansson Robinowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-johansson-robinowitz/) > [“Anger is often a big problem for people who grew up in families where the overt expression of anger was an everyday occurrence. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-boorstein/anger-is-often-a-big-problem-for-people-who-grew-up-in-families-where/) [Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-boorstein/) > [“Thinking about anger in positive terms is alien in most people’s experiences. However, a healthy expression of anger is a component for building and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle-lpc/thinking-about-anger-in-positive-terms-is-alien-in-most-people-s/) [David W. Earle LPC](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle-lpc/) > [Every criticism, judgment, diagnosis, and expression of anger is the tragic expression of an unmet need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-criticism-judgment-diagnosis-and-expression-of-anger-is-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“A proverb in the Old Testament states: 'He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/a-proverb-in-the-old-testament-states-he-that-is-slow-to-anger-is/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [“Revenge is an expression of anger. It’s purely for the offended. And it won’t heal the wounds of your betrayal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leia-shaw/revenge-is-an-expression-of-anger-it-s-purely-for-the-offended-and-it/) [Leia Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leia-shaw/) > [I'm like pixie grunge. The perfect blend of sugar and spice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rico-nasty/i-m-like-pixie-grunge-the-perfect-blend-of-sugar-and-spice/) [Rico Nasty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rico-nasty/) > [Sugar and spice makes Christmas nice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sugar-and-spice-makes-christmas-nice/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ok, here goes: I'm going to see how many people I can offend by suggesting that maybe many little gay boys, like many little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-dreger/ok-here-goes-i-m-going-to-see-how-many-people-i-can-offend-by/) [Alice Dreger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-dreger/) > [I may be sugar I may be spice but I'm nothing nice so if u mess with me u better think twice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatyana-widemen/i-may-be-sugar-i-may-be-spice-but-i-m-nothing-nice-so-if-u-mess-with/) [Tatyana Widemen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatyana-widemen/) > [Ooh boy, open your eyes A girl like me ain't waitin' all night Ooh boy, better think twice I got that honey, that sugar,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiddy-bang/ooh-boy-open-your-eyes-a-girl-like-me-ain-t-waitin-all-night-ooh-boy/) [Chiddy Bang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiddy-bang/) > [“He'd say most kids were made of sugar and spice, but his Kylee was made of pancakes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-moore/he-d-say-most-kids-were-made-of-sugar-and-spice-but-his-kylee-was/) [Mia Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-moore/) > [I hate being mad then I turn into someone I dont wanna be I like to stay sweet…sugar spice and everything nice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hate-being-mad-then-i-turn-into-someone-i-dont-wanna-be-i-like-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Harriet Lerner > [“Letting go of anger and hate requires us to give up the hope for a different past, along with the hope of a fantasized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/letting-go-of-anger-and-hate-requires-us-to-give-up-the-hope-for-a/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [“There’s a widespread belief that if you have solid self-esteem you don’t need outside affirmation and praise. This is patently untrue, by the way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/there-s-a-widespread-belief-that-if-you-have-solid-self-esteem-you/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [It is an act of courage to acknowledge our own uncertainty and sit with it for a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/it-is-an-act-of-courage-to-acknowledge-our-own-uncertainty-and-sit/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [Silence can pose a greater threat than the difficult truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/silence-can-pose-a-greater-threat-than-the-difficult-truth/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [Nothing you say can ensure that the other person will get it, or respond the way you want. You may never exceed his threshold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/nothing-you-say-can-ensure-that-the-other-person-will-get-it-or/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [If you exchanged wedding vows, tape them to your bathroom mirror and read them aloud to yourself every morning along with the ritual brushing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/if-you-exchanged-wedding-vows-tape-them-to-your-bathroom-mirror-and/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [Kids want nothing more than for all the important adults in their life to get along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/kids-want-nothing-more-than-for-all-the-important-adults-in-their/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [“People's sense of self worth is pivotal to their ability to look clearly at the hurt they've caused. The more solid one's sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/people-s-sense-of-self-worth-is-pivotal-to-their-ability-to-look/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [Being able to make a sincere apology - one that says, "Yes, I get it; I screwed up. Your feelings make sense, and I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/being-able-to-make-a-sincere-apology-one-that-says-yes-i-get-it-i/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [“Everyone freaks out. Sometimes the best we can do with fear is befriend it. Expect it and understand that fear will always reappear. Eventually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/everyone-freaks-out-sometimes-the-best-we-can-do-with-fear-is/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [The bolder and more courageous you are, the more you will learn about yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/the-bolder-and-more-courageous-you-are-the-more-you-will-learn-about/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [Underground issues from one relationship or context invariably fuel our fires in another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/underground-issues-from-one-relationship-or-context-invariably-fuel/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [There are some things for which there is no apology, and on the question of slavery, there is no adequate apology for ripping people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/there-are-some-things-for-which-there-is-no-apology-and-on-the/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [Don't count on the power of your love or your nagging to create something that wasn't there to begin with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/don-t-count-on-the-power-of-your-love-or-your-nagging-to-create/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [If we only listened with the same passion that we feel about being heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/if-we-only-listened-with-the-same-passion-that-we-feel-about-being/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) [Explore all 113 Harriet Lerner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) ## More Anger quotes > [“If I let myself think of it the pain and anger were still fresh, adrenalin racing down my limbs to pool, hot and itchy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylie-ladd/if-i-let-myself-think-of-it-the-pain-and-anger-were-still-fresh/) [Kylie Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylie-ladd/) > [I receive something we might euphemistically call an 'inappropriately hostile' response - that is to say, more than fair criticism or even fair anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/i-receive-something-we-might-euphemistically-call-an-inappropriately/) [Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Anger is a rough water; if you can canalize it into a water mill, you can benefit from it. Anything bad can be transformed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/anger-is-a-rough-water-if-you-can-canalize-it-into-a-water-mill-you/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [“When you feel terribly angry, you're possessed by anger ghost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/when-you-feel-terribly-angry-you-re-possessed-by-anger-ghost/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“Medical studies have shown that cursing reduces levels of stress and pain. Repressing your anger is not healthy. It's much better to verbalize it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/medical-studies-have-shown-that-cursing-reduces-levels-of-stress-and/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [My care will be in the heart n not in words My anger will be in Words n not in the Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/my-care-will-be-in-the-heart-n-not-in-words-my-anger-will-be-in-words/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-a-negro-in-this-country-and-to-be-relatively-conscious-is-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“God, you had enough time to have been through it three times. You've been through my stuff. I bet you over and let one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/god-you-had-enough-time-to-have-been-through-it-three-times-you-ve/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect was already in the cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/the-present-contains-nothing-more-than-the-past-and-what-is-found-in/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/depression-is-merely-anger-without-enthusiasm/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I always fight better when my opponent's angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-haye/i-always-fight-better-when-my-opponent-s-angry/) [David Haye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-haye/) > [ “Where there are kashays (anger-pride-deceit-greed), there is worldly life. As long as anger-pride-deceit-greed exist; one is a sansaari \[living a worldly life\] regardless of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-are-kashays-anger-pride-deceit-greed-there-is-worldly/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) [Browse all 7,469 Anger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Women ... have long been discouraged from the awareness and forthright expression of anger. Sugar and spice are the ingredients from which we are made. We are the nurturers, the soothers, the peacemakers, and the steadiers of rocked boats.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Harriet Lerner" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/women-have-long-been-discouraged-from-the-awareness-and-forthright/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anger" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/women-have-long-been-discouraged-from-the-awareness-and-forthright/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1da/harriet-lerner-4248_anger_women-have-long-been-discouraged-from-th_1136164.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1da/harriet-lerner-4248_anger_women-have-long-been-discouraged-from-th_1136164.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1da/harriet-lerner-4248_anger_women-have-long-been-discouraged-from-th_1136164.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Women ... have long been discouraged from the awareness and forthright expression of anger. Sugar and spice…” — Harriet Lerner", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Harriet Lerner", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Women ... have long been discouraged...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/women-have-long-been-discouraged-from-the-awareness-and-forthright/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/women-have-long-been-discouraged-from-the-awareness-and-forthright/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```