--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not sure that finding a husband at…" description: "\"I'm not sure that finding a husband at university made me any less of a feminist or an academic. I still soaked up Susan Faludi; I still read Doris Les..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e7/janine-di-giovanni-11564_academic_i-m-not-sure-that-finding-a-husband-at-u_895817.jpg" --- # I'm not sure that finding a husband at university made me… ![“I'm not sure that finding a husband at university made me any less of a feminist or an academic. I still soaked up Susan Faludi; I still read Doris Lessing. But I did it at the same time I met someone who I felt was my soulmate.” quote by Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e7/janine-di-giovanni-11564_academic_i-m-not-sure-that-finding-a-husband-at-u_895817.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e7/janine-di-giovanni-11564_academic_i-m-not-sure-that-finding-a-husband-at-u_895817.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e7/janine-di-giovanni-11564_academic_i-m-not-sure-that-finding-a-husband-at-u_895817.jpg) > “I'm not sure that finding a husband at university made me any less of a feminist or an academic. I still soaked up Susan Faludi; I still read Doris Lessing. But I did it at the same time I met someone who I felt was my soulmate.” [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balancing feminist identity with personal relationships shows that intellectual commitments and love can coexist without diminishing either. **In simple terms:** Feminism and love can coexist. Key Takeaway Honor both intellectual and emotional lives. Themes feminism academic life love identity balance Mood thoughtful balanced Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - university life - romantic partnership - activism - reading habits Key Concepts intersectionality personal narrative Questions to Reflect On - How do you navigate personal relationships while maintaining feminist ideals? - What role does literature play in shaping your identity? A Different Perspective Potential tension between personal choices and public feminist expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Academic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/academic/) [Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Feminist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminist/) [Husband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/husband/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Soulmate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soulmate/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [University](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university/) ## Related quotes > [“Well, I am also pretty confident that I’ve got your number,” Jake told her, glancing at her again. Could eyes dance? 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These poor women in academia have to talk this silly language that nobody can understand in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/nobody-cares-about-feminist-academic-writing-that-s-careerism-these/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [I'm sure I've been influenced by every fine writer I've ever read, from Dickens and Austen to Auden and Jane Hirshfield. And also, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-bloom/i-m-sure-i-ve-been-influenced-by-every-fine-writer-i-ve-ever-read/) [Amy Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-bloom/) > [Doris Lessing really doesn't care what the critics say. In fact, she orders her publishers not to send her the reviews and gets cross…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/doris-lessing-really-doesn-t-care-what-the-critics-say-in-fact-she/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [Some writers are so enthralled by ideas (one thinks of Doris Lessing) that their characters become debaters, and their fables approach allegory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/some-writers-are-so-enthralled-by-ideas-one-thinks-of-doris-lessing/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [“Why are women so ungenerous to other women? Is it because we have been tokens for so long? Or is there a deeper animosity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/why-are-women-so-ungenerous-to-other-women-is-it-because-we-have-been/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [“THE HONEYEATER story was mesmerizing: the story took hold of me and I felt compelled to write it. I was also inspired by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yolanda-a-reid/the-honeyeater-story-was-mesmerizing-the-story-took-hold-of-me-and-i/) Yolanda A. Reid > [“I wanted to be Emma Goldman. I wanted to digest Doris Lessing’s Golden Notebooks like biscuits. I felt like Harriet the Spy, looking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susie-bright/i-wanted-to-be-emma-goldman-i-wanted-to-digest-doris-lessing-s-golden/) [Susie Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susie-bright/) > [When Doris Lessing won the Nobel Prize for Literature at the age of 88, she was the oldest person ever to receive the prize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cartwright/when-doris-lessing-won-the-nobel-prize-for-literature-at-the-age-of/) [Justin Cartwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cartwright/) > [“I will define science fiction, first, by saying what sf is not. It cannot be defined as "a story (or novel or play) set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-will-define-science-fiction-first-by-saying-what-sf-is-not-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Writing is so much more problematic than drawing, full of moral pitfalls, ambiguity, public responsibility. If you record a day of your life, does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/writing-is-so-much-more-problematic-than-drawing-full-of-moral/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [I think women do write politically all the time. Margaret Atwood does; Doris Lessing does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorrie-moore/i-think-women-do-write-politically-all-the-time-margaret-atwood-does/) [Lorrie Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorrie-moore/) > [“Martha had been struck by a line in a Doris Lessing novel—“I don’t enjoy pleasure”—and decided that what she enjoyed in life were surprises…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-moorehead/martha-had-been-struck-by-a-line-in-a-doris-lessing-novel-i-don-t/) [Caroline Moorehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-moorehead/) ## More by Janine di Giovanni > [When I did a year-long study in 2005 of European countries integrating Muslims into their cultures, France came in the lowest of the rank.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/when-i-did-a-year-long-study-in-2005-of-european-countries/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [Any protester knows that the only way activism works is to get the people on your side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/any-protester-knows-that-the-only-way-activism-works-is-to-get-the/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [In a very straightforward way, I am a terrible reporter. I'm not someone who can go into a story and not get involved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/in-a-very-straightforward-way-i-am-a-terrible-reporter-i-m-not/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [In the aftermath of any war or genocide, healing and reconciliation are ultimate aspirations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/in-the-aftermath-of-any-war-or-genocide-healing-and-reconciliation/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [Occupy Wall Street was a disorganized movement without a clear focus and power base - essential in any successful revolution - but the message…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/occupy-wall-street-was-a-disorganized-movement-without-a-clear-focus/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [My mother came from a generation that did not want nannies. She had her first child at 24 and her last - me - at 42.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/my-mother-came-from-a-generation-that-did-not-want-nannies-she-had/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [There is a painful joke that Europeans often tell of their Gallic neighbors: God created France, the most beautiful country in the world with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/there-is-a-painful-joke-that-europeans-often-tell-of-their-gallic/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [I did not read newspapers until I became a reporter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/i-did-not-read-newspapers-until-i-became-a-reporter/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [“A few years back, I had a long session with a psychiatrist who was conducting a study on post-traumatic stress disorder and its effects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/a-few-years-back-i-had-a-long-session-with-a-psychiatrist-who-was/) [Janine Di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [It's hard for the Catholic Church to accept change. When the mass was no longer said in Latin, loyalists went into mourning for years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/it-s-hard-for-the-catholic-church-to-accept-change-when-the-mass-was/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [It is a well known urban myth that the French don't trust banks and store their money under their mattress. It's not that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/it-is-a-well-known-urban-myth-that-the-french-don-t-trust-banks-and/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [The pope is an intelligent man and realizes that time marches on. He says the Church has a long way to go in developing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/the-pope-is-an-intelligent-man-and-realizes-that-time-marches-on-he/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [During war time, when people were injured, I was really frustrated I did not become a doctor. It's painful not being able to save…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/during-war-time-when-people-were-injured-i-was-really-frustrated-i/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [Hats, giant shades and 60-plus sunblock are part of my summer repertoire. I don't want wrinkles, but it's skin cancer I truly fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/hats-giant-shades-and-60-plus-sunblock-are-part-of-my-summer/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [I love magazines. I always read 'Time,' 'Newsweek' and 'The Economist.' When I get my hair cut, French 'Vogue,' French 'Elle,' 'Paris Match' -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/i-love-magazines-i-always-read-time-newsweek-and-the-economist-when-i/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) [Explore all 59 Janine di Giovanni quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) ## More Academic quotes > [When I went to college, as much as my parents emphasized academic achievement, they emphasized marriage even more. 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Everett Koop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-everett-koop/) > [Marx, however imperfectly he worked out the details, set himself the task of discovering the law of motion of capitalism, and if there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-robinson/marx-however-imperfectly-he-worked-out-the-details-set-himself-the/) [Joan Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-robinson/) > [Now know I well what people sought formerly above all else when they sought Teachers of virtue. Good sleep they sought for themselves, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/now-know-i-well-what-people-sought-formerly-above-all-else-when-they/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Because my graduate academic training at law school was not one that included most of the intellectual traditions I find useful for understanding the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-spade/because-my-graduate-academic-training-at-law-school-was-not-one-that/) [Dean Spade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-spade/) > [An academic discipline, or any other semiotic domain, for that matter, is not primarily content, in the sense of facts and principles. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-paul-gee/an-academic-discipline-or-any-other-semiotic-domain-for-that-matter/) [James Paul Gee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-paul-gee/) > [“In the end, ethical interpretation of the Bible means to think critically about how our practices of textual engagement might help us to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-brueggemann/in-the-end-ethical-interpretation-of-the-bible-means-to-think/) [Walter Brueggemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-brueggemann/) > [Perhaps art criticism cannot be reformed in a logical sense because it was never well-formed in the first place. Art criticism has long been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-elkins/perhaps-art-criticism-cannot-be-reformed-in-a-logical-sense-because/) [James Elkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-elkins/) > [And I'm the first one to tell people to break the rules. 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I am a novelist who happens to be quite good academically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-byatt-2/i-am-not-an-academic-who-happens-to-have-written-a-novel-i-am-a/) [A. S. Byatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-byatt-2/) [Browse all 958 Academic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/academic/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm not sure that finding a husband at university made me any less of a feminist or an academic. I still soaked up Susan Faludi; I still read Doris Lessing. 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