Family Quote by Jennifer E. Smith
““Yeah," Violet says from where she's stooped on the floor. "But those weren't family tears." Whitney rakes her fingers through Hadley's hair. "What were they, then." "Those were boy tears," Violet says with a smile.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Truth About Forever by Jennifer E. Smith, 2009
Violet distinguishes between genuine emotional expression and performative crying, suggesting gendered expectations of vulnerability.
In simple terms: Not all tears are the same; some are tied to gender roles.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and respect different ways people show emotion.
Themes
gender
emotions
relationships
communication
Mood
reflective
empathetic
Type
dialogue
literary
When to use this quote
- family conflict
- teen romance
- self‑discovery
Key Concepts
social norms
performative behavior
authenticity
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you tell if someone's tears are genuine?
- Do gender expectations shape how we express sadness?
A Different Perspective
It may oversimplify complex feelings into gender categories.
![“I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with [my wife] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and I just had such a strong reaction to the prayer. And I was really emotionally - I felt really grounded at that time. And so to be in this prayer and the imam is doing the prayer in…” quote by Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d31/mahershala-ali-6687_attention_i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with_3083.jpg)
