--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But why give a man something it's so hard…" description: "\"“But why give a man something it's so hard to earn? In that respect women are really thick. They're the daughters of rigidity. They need a man to feel ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ba/isabel-allende-266_children_but-why-give-a-man-something-it-s-so-har_491491.jpg" --- # But why give a man something it's so hard to earn? In that… ![“But why give a man something it's so hard to earn? In that respect women are really thick. They're the daughters of rigidity. They need a man to feel secure but they don't realize that the one thing they should be afraid of is men. They don't know how to run their lives. They have to sacrifice…” quote by Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ba/isabel-allende-266_children_but-why-give-a-man-something-it-s-so-har_491491.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ba/isabel-allende-266_children_but-why-give-a-man-something-it-s-so-har_491491.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ba/isabel-allende-266_children_but-why-give-a-man-something-it-s-so-har_491491.jpg) > ““But why give a man something it's so hard to earn? In that respect women are really thick. They're the daughters of rigidity. They need a man to feel secure but they don't realize that the one thing they should be afraid of is men. They don't know how to run their lives. They have to sacrifice themselves for the sake of someone else. Whores are the worst, patron, believe me. They throw their lives away working for some pimp, smile when he beats them, feel proud when he's well dressed, with his gold teeth and rings on his fingers, and when he goes off and takes up with a woman half their age they forgive him everything because 'he's a man.”” [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote portrays women as dependent on men for security, fearing men themselves, and being forced into self‑sacrificial roles, while condemning sex workers as morally corrupt. **In simple terms:** Women are depicted as needing men yet fearing them, and sex workers are vilified. Key Takeaway Challenge gender stereotypes and recognize women's agency. Themes gender roles dependence misogyny sex work power dynamics Mood critical reflective Type analytical social commentary When to use this quote - feminist activism - gender equality education - support for survivors of exploitation - critical media analysis Key Concepts patriarchy objectification self‑sacrifice social control Questions to Reflect On - How do societal expectations shape women's perceived dependence? - What alternative narratives empower women beyond these stereotypes? A Different Perspective The view is overly generalized and ignores women's autonomy and the complexities of sex work. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid-men-1436875/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Earn respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earn-respect/) [Feminist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminist/) [Gold teeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold-teeth/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mentality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentality/) [Pimps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pimps/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Respect women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect-women/) [Rigidity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rigidity/) [Well dressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/well-dressed/) [Whores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whores/) [Whores Worst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whores-worst-4205965/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/) [Women and men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women-and-men/) ## Related quotes > [Women aren't physically afraid of men; women are genetically afraid of men. It's happened for such a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-myles/women-aren-t-physically-afraid-of-men-women-are-genetically-afraid-of/) [Eileen Myles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-myles/) > [Why are we still afraid of being other than men? Women are still in hiding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-r-lippard/why-are-we-still-afraid-of-being-other-than-men-women-are-still-in/) [Lucy R. Lippard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-r-lippard/) > [“I'm afraid men are not always quite as clever as they think they are. 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If he is afraid of men he cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-newton-casson/in-handling-men-there-are-three-feelings-that-a-man-must-not-possess/) [Herbert Newton Casson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-newton-casson/) > [“I was afraid that men like that could see the hole in me, a thing I dared not admit even to myself: that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-blow/i-was-afraid-that-men-like-that-could-see-the-hole-in-me-a-thing-i/) [Charles M. Blow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-blow/) > [I find it difficult to be afraid of men, not to disrespect them, but simply because they are human beings not God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/i-find-it-difficult-to-be-afraid-of-men-not-to-disrespect-them-but/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [All heaven is interested in the cross of Christ, all hell terribly afraid of it, while men are the only beings who more or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/all-heaven-is-interested-in-the-cross-of-christ-all-hell-terribly/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [In our civilization, men are afraid that they will not be men enough and women are afraid that they may be considered only women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-our-civilization-men-are-afraid-that-they-will-not-be-men-enough/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Men are the thing to be afraid of, always, men and nothing else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/men-are-the-thing-to-be-afraid-of-always-men-and-nothing-else/) [Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [I was eighteen, this was back in '46, so we also had these very frightening images of soldiers in the streets of Paris. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-was-eighteen-this-was-back-in-46-so-we-also-had-these-very/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [I am afraid of him, of all men who are successful in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-salter/i-am-afraid-of-him-of-all-men-who-are-successful-in-love/) [James Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-salter/) > [“At core, men are afraid women will laugh at them, while at core, women are afraid men will kill them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-de-becker/at-core-men-are-afraid-women-will-laugh-at-them-while-at-core-women/) [Gavin de Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-de-becker/) ## More by Isabel Allende > [“I am happier when I love than when I am loved. I adore my husband, my son, and my grandchildren, my mother, my dog,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/i-am-happier-when-i-love-than-when-i-am-loved-i-adore-my-husband-my/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [Having a point to start is important. You know that when you decide to write something it's like a commitment. It's like falling in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/having-a-point-to-start-is-important-you-know-that-when-you-decide-to/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [Music is a wind that blows away the years, memories, and fear, that crouching animal I carry inside me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/music-is-a-wind-that-blows-away-the-years-memories-and-fear-that/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [Everybody has losses - it's unavoidable in life. Sharing our pain is very healing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/everybody-has-losses-it-s-unavoidable-in-life-sharing-our-pain-is/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [“The writer and the dreamer have so much in common: They can't control the plot, they are always part of the story or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/the-writer-and-the-dreamer-have-so-much-in-common-they-can-t-control/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [People think that they will sit down and produce the great American novel in one sitting. It doesn't work that way. This is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/people-think-that-they-will-sit-down-and-produce-the-great-american/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [“He had a principle: if you lend money and never see the person again, that's money well spent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/he-had-a-principle-if-you-lend-money-and-never-see-the-person-again/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [“Catholics form a majority in Chile, although there are more and more Evangelicals and Pentacostals who irritate everyone because they have a direct understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/catholics-form-a-majority-in-chile-although-there-are-more-and-more/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [“At times I feel as if I had lived all this before and that I have already written these very words, but I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/at-times-i-feel-as-if-i-had-lived-all-this-before-and-that-i-have/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [In 2011, I announced that I was going to retire, and my agent panicked. So she says: 'No, no, no. You have to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/in-2011-i-announced-that-i-was-going-to-retire-and-my-agent-panicked/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [I have lived with passion and in a hurry, trying to accomplish too many things. I never had time to think about my beliefs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/i-have-lived-with-passion-and-in-a-hurry-trying-to-accomplish-too/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [I'm surrounded by the scene of aging. I myself am in my 70s and not getting any younger. 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It’s a slow-growing plant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/intimacy-needs-time-to-mature-a-shared-history-tears-shed-obstacles/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [ The idea of the book \["The Japanese Lover"\] came in a conversation that I had with a friend walking in the streets of New… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/the-idea-of-the-book-the-japanese-lover-came-in-a-conversation-that-i/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) [Explore all 552 Isabel Allende quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. 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They have to sacrifice themselves for the sake of someone else. Whores are the worst, patron, believe me. 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