--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why aren’t you asking a hundred other…" description: "\"“Why aren’t you asking a hundred other guys why they don’t write strong women characters? I believe that what I’m doing should not be remarked upon, le..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9b/joss-whedon-480_empowerment_why-aren-t-you-asking-a-hundred-other-gu_68413.png" --- # Why aren’t you asking a hundred other guys why they don’t… ![“Why aren’t you asking a hundred other guys why they don’t write strong women characters? I believe that what I’m doing should not be remarked upon, let alone honoured… Because equality is not a concept. It’s not something we should be striving for. It’s a necessity. Equality is like gravity. We…” quote by Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9b/joss-whedon-480_empowerment_why-aren-t-you-asking-a-hundred-other-gu_68413.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9b/joss-whedon-480_empowerment_why-aren-t-you-asking-a-hundred-other-gu_68413.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9b/joss-whedon-480_empowerment_why-aren-t-you-asking-a-hundred-other-gu_68413.png) > ““Why aren’t you asking a hundred other guys why they don’t write strong women characters? I believe that what I’m doing should not be remarked upon, let alone honoured… Because equality is not a concept. It’s not something we should be striving for. It’s a necessity. Equality is like gravity. We need it to stand on this earth as men and women. And the misogyny that is in every culture is not a true part of the human condition. It is life out of balance, and that imbalance is sucking something out of the soul of every man and woman who is confronted with it. We need equality. Kinda now. 'So, why do you write these strong female characters?' Because you’re still asking me that question." \[ Equality Now speech, May 15, 2006\]”” [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker argues that gender equality is essential, not optional, and that misogyny disrupts societal balance, demanding immediate action rather than mere acknowledgment. **In simple terms:** Equality is a necessary, natural force. Key Takeaway Equality must be acted upon now. Themes gender equality social justice cultural critique masculinity feminism Mood determined urgent hopeful Type speech opinion manifesto When to use this quote - authoring strong female characters - public speaking on equality - media representation debates - educational curricula design - policy advocacy Key Concepts misogyny human condition necessity gravity metaphor Practical Applications - creating balanced narratives - informing equality initiatives Questions to Reflect On - How does framing equality as a natural law affect its urgency? - What responsibilities do creators have in challenging misogyny? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Empowerment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empowerment/) [Equality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equality/) [Female character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/female-character/) [Gender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gender/) [Human condition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-condition/) [Man and woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-and-woman/) [Men and women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-and-women/) [Mysogyny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mysogyny/) [Strong female](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-female/) [Strong female characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-female-characters/) [Strong women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-women/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/) ## Related quotes > [“Equality is not a concept. It's not something we should be striving for. It's a necessity. Equality is like gravity. We need it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/equality-is-not-a-concept-it-s-not-something-we-should-be-striving-3/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [Equality is not a concept. It's not something we should be striving for. It's a necessity. Equality is like gravity, we need it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/equality-is-not-a-concept-it-s-not-something-we-should-be-striving/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [Equality is not a concept. It's not something we should be striving for. It's a necessity. Equality is like gravity. We need it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/equality-is-not-a-concept-it-s-not-something-we-should-be-striving-2/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [ “So, why do you write these strong female characters? Because you’re still asking me that question." \[ Equality Now speech, May 15, 2006\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/so-why-do-you-write-these-strong-female-characters-because-you-re/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [What we need is equality without conformity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-stanley-robinson/what-we-need-is-equality-without-conformity/) [Kim Stanley Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-stanley-robinson/) > [I don't think that we should have billionaires because, frankly, it is so much money in a moment of such inequality, and ultimately, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zohran-mamdani/i-don-t-think-that-we-should-have-billionaires-because-frankly-it-is/) [Zohran Mamdani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zohran-mamdani/) > [In the world we live in, where we say we need equality, we don't think highly of ourselves. We don't give much importance to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kubra-sait/in-the-world-we-live-in-where-we-say-we-need-equality-we-don-t-think/) [Kubra Sait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kubra-sait/) > [“Y’know, it’s not that we need equality. Because everyone’s already equal, it’s just that a ton of idiots lost the memo. Indeed, everyone just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-rose-mckee/y-know-it-s-not-that-we-need-equality-because-everyone-s-already/) [Ellie Rose McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-rose-mckee/) > [“Immodest creature, you do not want a woman who will accept your faults, you want the one who pretends you are faultless – one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sand/immodest-creature-you-do-not-want-a-woman-who-will-accept-your-faults/) [George Sand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sand/) > [“All this talk about morality, chastity, prudence and the like are very antiquated notions created by some very old belief systems that are notoriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-hogue/all-this-talk-about-morality-chastity-prudence-and-the-like-are-very/) [Roberto Hogue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-hogue/) > [“These blithering women who thought they could do a man's work. Why the hell couldn't they stay at home and mind their pots and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/these-blithering-women-who-thought-they-could-do-a-man-s-work-why-the/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [“Sooner or later you end up making deals with women. It's an injustice, really.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-nell-warren/sooner-or-later-you-end-up-making-deals-with-women-it-s-an-injustice/) [Patricia Nell Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-nell-warren/) > [“At its best fashion is a game. But for women it's a compulsory game, like net ball, and you can't get out of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-moran/at-its-best-fashion-is-a-game-but-for-women-it-s-a-compulsory-game/) [Caitlin Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-moran/) > [“I'm wearing a French maid's outfit because this bunch of misogynistic homophobes thinks that the most humiliating thing you can do to a guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-henry/i-m-wearing-a-french-maid-s-outfit-because-this-bunch-of-misogynistic/) [Lisa Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-henry/) > [“Repression is a seamless garment; a society which is authoritarian in its social and sexual codes, which crushes its women beneath the intolerable burdens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/repression-is-a-seamless-garment-a-society-which-is-authoritarian-in/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) ## More by Joss Whedon > [I do remember what I said. The promise. To protect her. If I'd done that ... even if I didn't make it, you wouldn't've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/i-do-remember-what-i-said-the-promise-to-protect-her-if-i-d-done-that/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [Every vampire fiction reinvents vampires to its own needs. You take what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/every-vampire-fiction-reinvents-vampires-to-its-own-needs-you-take/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [When you're making a film, you have an obligation to fill the frame with life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/when-you-re-making-a-film-you-have-an-obligation-to-fill-the-frame/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [Everything we do really is just a little marker on the long road to death. And sometimes that’s overwhelmingly depressing to me, and sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/everything-we-do-really-is-just-a-little-marker-on-the-long-road-to/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [At the end of the day I have many answers for it. It has to do with my mom, who was an extraordinary woman,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/at-the-end-of-the-day-i-have-many-answers-for-it-it-has-to-do-with-my/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [People feel removed from sexism. 'I'm not a sexist, but I'm not a feminist.' They think there's this fuzzy middle ground. There's no fuzzy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/people-feel-removed-from-sexism-i-m-not-a-sexist-but-i-m-not-a/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [Even in the darkness, every color can be found. And every day of rain brings water flowing to things growing in the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/even-in-the-darkness-every-color-can-be-found-and-every-day-of-rain/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [I never tire of the heroes that I knew growing up. The fun is not that much different from doing a television show: You're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/i-never-tire-of-the-heroes-that-i-knew-growing-up-the-fun-is-not-that/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [Don't just be yourself. Be all of your selves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/don-t-just-be-yourself-be-all-of-your-selves/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [I always watch what I say. I am what I say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/i-always-watch-what-i-say-i-am-what-i-say/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [Remember to always be yourself. Unless you suck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/remember-to-always-be-yourself-unless-you-suck/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [I've become less cynical, which is appalling but kind of cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/i-ve-become-less-cynical-which-is-appalling-but-kind-of-cool/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [“Xander: It could be witches, some evil witches, which is ridiculous cause witched they were persecuted, women power, love the eatrh, and I'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/xander-it-could-be-witches-some-evil-witches-which-is-ridiculous/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [There's a lot of anger in the Twitter-verse, as I've discovered. But there's a lot of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/there-s-a-lot-of-anger-in-the-twitter-verse-as-i-ve-discovered-but/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [I have abused language. I love it, and I abuse it... I don't write just to be clever. But sometimes I do. And if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/i-have-abused-language-i-love-it-and-i-abuse-it-i-don-t-write-just-to/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) [Explore all 529 Joss Whedon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) ## More Empowerment quotes > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [She might be without country, without nation, but inside her there was still a being that could exist and be free, that could simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-maas/she-might-be-without-country-without-nation-but-inside-her-there-was/) [Sharon Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-maas/) > [“Fear has the role we give it. We are able to empower or poison ourselves to whatever degree we want. This is the beauty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/fear-has-the-role-we-give-it-we-are-able-to-empower-or-poison/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [“Recognize that your attention is the most valuable thing you can ever own, and you alone have the ultimate power to choose where to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-luckman/recognize-that-your-attention-is-the-most-valuable-thing-you-can-ever/) [Sol Luckman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-luckman/) > [“If men could see us as we really are, they would be a little amazed; but the cleverest, the acutest men are often under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/if-men-could-see-us-as-we-really-are-they-would-be-a-little-amazed/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“Manipulating or controlling others through the use of one's illness or suffering,for example,was-and remains-extremely effective for people who find they cannot be direct in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/manipulating-or-controlling-others-through-the-use-of-one-s-illness/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) > [Empowerment of individuals is a key part of what makes open source work, since in the end, innovations tend to come from small groups,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-reilly/empowerment-of-individuals-is-a-key-part-of-what-makes-open-source/) [Tim O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-reilly/) > [“How would your life be different if...You could control the outcome of your day, your week, your year? Let today be the day...You embrace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/how-would-your-life-be-different-if-you-could-control-the-outcome-of/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [We seem to have lost contact with the earlier, more profound functions of art, which have always had to do with personal and collective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-london/we-seem-to-have-lost-contact-with-the-earlier-more-profound-functions/) [Peter London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-london/) > [There's a lot of activism that doesn't deal with empowerment, and you have to empower yourself in order to be relevant to any type…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/there-s-a-lot-of-activism-that-doesn-t-deal-with-empowerment-and-you/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [“Wallowing in self-pity hurts no one except you. 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Because, one of the problems that's mentioned with regard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/what-we-are-saying-is-that-we-need-to-consolidate-the-capacity-to/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [“A spiritual reinterpretation of events gives us miraculous authority to command the winds, to part the waters, and to break all chains that bind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/a-spiritual-reinterpretation-of-events-gives-us-miraculous-authority/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) [Browse all 1,314 Empowerment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empowerment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Why aren’t you asking a hundred other guys why they don’t write strong women characters? I believe that what I’m doing should not be remarked upon, let alone honoured… Because equality is not a concept. 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