---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was a working-class macho guy who was…"
description: "\"I was a working-class macho guy who was used to being served and Yoko didn't buy that. From the day I met her, she demanded equal time, equal space, eq..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/850/john-lennon-322_class_i-was-a-working-class-macho-guy-who-was_1201048.jpg"
---

#  I was a working-class macho guy who was used to being…

![“I was a working-class macho guy who was used to being served and Yoko didn't buy that. From the day I met her, she demanded equal time, equal space, equal rights.” quote by John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/850/john-lennon-322_class_i-was-a-working-class-macho-guy-who-was_1201048.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/850/john-lennon-322_class_i-was-a-working-class-macho-guy-who-was_1201048.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/850/john-lennon-322_class_i-was-a-working-class-macho-guy-who-was_1201048.jpg)

> “I was a working-class macho guy who was used to being served and Yoko didn't buy that. From the day I met her, she demanded equal time, equal space, equal rights.”

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Traditional gender roles are challenged when partners demand equal respect and space.

**In simple terms:** Equality requires sharing time and rights.

Key Takeaway

Embrace partnership equality.

Themes

gender equality relationships feminism personal growth social norms

Mood

thoughtful hopeful

Type

personal social

When to use this quote

- marriage counseling
- team projects
- co‑habitation
- activism

Key Concepts

power dynamics mutual respect shared responsibilities

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you negotiate equal space?
- What boundaries support mutual respect?

A Different Perspective

Changing habits can be difficult for both parties.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Equal rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal-rights/) [Macho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/macho/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Working class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-class/)

## Related quotes

> [“How could I insist on equality when I was unwilling to do what life demanded to be equal?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-courtland/how-could-i-insist-on-equality-when-i-was-unwilling-to-do-what-life/)

Charlie Courtland

> [As someone from the working class I was always interested in Russia and China and everything that related to the working class, even though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/as-someone-from-the-working-class-i-was-always-interested-in-russia/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [A working class hero is something to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/a-working-class-hero-is-something-to-be/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [To begin with, working class people reacted against our openness about sex. They are frightened of nudity, they're repressed in that way as well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/to-begin-with-working-class-people-reacted-against-our-openness-about/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [“Macho men, without their grief, must find a way to gain power and control over their environment. They have a unique way of rationalizing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-arterburn/macho-men-without-their-grief-must-find-a-way-to-gain-power-and/)

[Stephen Arterburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-arterburn/)

> [“I’m as manly and macho as the next guy. And I know that shedding a tear about something does not make or break my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-bunn/i-m-as-manly-and-macho-as-the-next-guy-and-i-know-that-shedding-a/)

Curtis Bunn

> [I was a breed of people who aren't capable of doing anything, really. At college I began to get the idea that being macho…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/i-was-a-breed-of-people-who-aren-t-capable-of-doing-anything-really/)

[Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/)

> [I love playing the macho guy who looks like an idiot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/i-love-playing-the-macho-guy-who-looks-like-an-idiot/)

[Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/)

> [I wouldn't want to lose out on my macho action movie just because I told people I was queer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-miller/i-wouldn-t-want-to-lose-out-on-my-macho-action-movie-just-because-i/)

[Ezra Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-miller/)

> [The simple reason no embryo can develop without at least one X chromosome is that it's the X, not the Y, that is loaded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/the-simple-reason-no-embryo-can-develop-without-at-least-one-x/)

[Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/)

> [“My dick is a macho shithead but the rest of me is a sensitive, caring and gentle guy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/my-dick-is-a-macho-shithead-but-the-rest-of-me-is-a-sensitive-caring/)

[Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/)

> [I hate a macho sort who doesn't cry. They have to be a bit sensitive, don't they? They have to be a bit sensitive,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-bunton/i-hate-a-macho-sort-who-doesn-t-cry-they-have-to-be-a-bit-sensitive/)

[Emma Bunton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-bunton/)

> [Contrary to the macho culture of Mexico, both my grandmothers were very brave young widows. I was always very close to these hard-working, intelligent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-fuentes/contrary-to-the-macho-culture-of-mexico-both-my-grandmothers-were/)

[Carlos Fuentes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-fuentes/)

> [I had always functioned with dignity, wanting to appear intelligent, macho, never vulnerable or insecure. But now I realize that... a part of these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-nielsen/i-had-always-functioned-with-dignity-wanting-to-appear-intelligent/)

[Leslie Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-nielsen/)

> [A lot of gay men are in delusion if they think they're super macho.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-thompson/a-lot-of-gay-men-are-in-delusion-if-they-think-they-re-super-macho/)

[Scott Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-thompson/)

## More by John Lennon

> [Well, I don't want to be king, I want to be real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/well-i-don-t-want-to-be-king-i-want-to-be-real/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [ We went to America a few times and \[Brian\] Epstein always tried to waffle on at us about saying nothing about Vietnam. So there… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/we-went-to-america-a-few-times-and-brian-epstein-always-tried-to/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [As someone from the working class I was always interested in Russia and China and everything that related to the working class, even though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/as-someone-from-the-working-class-i-was-always-interested-in-russia/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [I never went to high school reunions. My thing is, out of sight, out of mind. That's my attitude toward life. So I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-never-went-to-high-school-reunions-my-thing-is-out-of-sight-out-of/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [Today's folk song is rock and roll. Although it happened to emanate from America, that's not really important in the end because we wrote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/today-s-folk-song-is-rock-and-roll-although-it-happened-to-emanate/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [If you want to get peace, you can get it as soon as you like if we all pull together. ... Think peace, live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/if-you-want-to-get-peace-you-can-get-it-as-soon-as-you-like-if-we-all/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [The reason why kids are crazy is because nobody can face the responsibility of bringing them up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/the-reason-why-kids-are-crazy-is-because-nobody-can-face-the/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [In my case I've never not been political, though religion tended to overshadow it in my acid days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/in-my-case-i-ve-never-not-been-political-though-religion-tended-to/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [I wasn't saying whatever they're saying I was saying. I'm sorry I said it really. I never meant it to be a lousy anti-religious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-wasn-t-saying-whatever-they-re-saying-i-was-saying-i-m-sorry-i-said/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [Songwriting is about getting the demon out of me. It's like being possessed. You try to go to sleep, but the song won't let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/songwriting-is-about-getting-the-demon-out-of-me-it-s-like-being/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [Imagine there's no heaven... it's easy if you try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/imagine-there-s-no-heaven-it-s-easy-if-you-try/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [Man, you should have seen them kicking Edgar Allan Poe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/man-you-should-have-seen-them-kicking-edgar-allan-poe/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [Love is like a flower - you've got to let it grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/love-is-like-a-flower-you-ve-got-to-let-it-grow/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [I don't know which will go first - rock 'n' roll or Christianity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-don-t-know-which-will-go-first-rock-n-roll-or-christianity/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

> [The main hangup in the world today is hypocrisy and insecurity. If people can't face up to the fact of other people being naked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/the-main-hangup-in-the-world-today-is-hypocrisy-and-insecurity-if/)

[John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

[Explore all 681 John Lennon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/)

## More Class quotes

> [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/)

[Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/)

> [If I had to guess and put a name on it, I'd say that at some point, the drug war was as much a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simon/if-i-had-to-guess-and-put-a-name-on-it-i-d-say-that-at-some-point-the/)

[David Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simon/)

> [I grew up in the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-scaramucci/i-grew-up-in-the-middle-class/)

[Anthony Scaramucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-scaramucci/)

> [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/)

[Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/)

> [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/)

[Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/)

> [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/)

[H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/)

> [You’re crazy,” said her best friend, Angela, as the bell rang to signal five minutes before the first class on the first day back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-re-crazy-said-her-best-friend-angela-as-the-bell-rang-to-signal/)

[Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/)

> [“Poor people do not go on holiday; they go home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/poor-people-do-not-go-on-holiday-they-go-home/)

[Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/)

> [Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-there-are-three-classes-of-intellects-one-which-comprehends/)

[Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/)

> [Right now, for many Americans, class is being foregrounded like never before because of the economic situation. It doesn't mean that race doesn't matter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/right-now-for-many-americans-class-is-being-foregrounded-like-never/)

[Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/)

> [But I don't think the Democratic Party is at eye level with the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-i-don-t-think-the-democratic-party-is-at-eye-level-with-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I'm not a dancer. Never took a dance class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrishell-stause/i-m-not-a-dancer-never-took-a-dance-class/)

[Chrishell Stause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrishell-stause/)

> [Most startups are not just built for the person who is using them. When you do that, every now and then you get really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmett-shear/most-startups-are-not-just-built-for-the-person-who-is-using-them/)

[Emmett Shear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmett-shear/)

> [The structure of the Swiss ruling class is rock-hard, and unchanged since the time of Napoleon. They sit on their mountains and lecture the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-ziegler/the-structure-of-the-swiss-ruling-class-is-rock-hard-and-unchanged/)

[Jean Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-ziegler/)

> [We are not going back to the failed policies of the past. We are fighting for the middle class!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/we-are-not-going-back-to-the-failed-policies-of-the-past-we-are/)

[Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/)

[Browse all 7,637 Class quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I was a working-class macho guy who was used to being served and Yoko didn't buy that. From the day I met her, she demanded equal time, equal space, equal rights.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Lennon"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-was-a-working-class-macho-guy-who-was-used-to-being-served-and-yoko/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Class"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-was-a-working-class-macho-guy-who-was-used-to-being-served-and-yoko/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/850/john-lennon-322_class_i-was-a-working-class-macho-guy-who-was_1201048.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/850/john-lennon-322_class_i-was-a-working-class-macho-guy-who-was_1201048.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/850/john-lennon-322_class_i-was-a-working-class-macho-guy-who-was_1201048.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I was a working-class macho guy who was used to being served and Yoko didn't buy that. From the day I met…” — John Lennon",
                "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": "John Lennon",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I was a working-class macho guy...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-was-a-working-class-macho-guy-who-was-used-to-being-served-and-yoko/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/i-was-a-working-class-macho-guy-who-was-used-to-being-served-and-yoko/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
