--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's depressing that ambition and…" description: "\"It's depressing that ambition and feminism have become almost dirty words for working women. But, there is no reason that they should be and, increasin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2b/karren-brady-5273_ambition_it-s-depressing-that-ambition-and-femini_3163516.jpg" --- # It's depressing that ambition and feminism have become… ![“It's depressing that ambition and feminism have become almost dirty words for working women. But, there is no reason that they should be and, increasingly, I am struck by how the next generation is challenging conceptions of what it means to be successful at work.” quote by Karren Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2b/karren-brady-5273_ambition_it-s-depressing-that-ambition-and-femini_3163516.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2b/karren-brady-5273_ambition_it-s-depressing-that-ambition-and-femini_3163516.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2b/karren-brady-5273_ambition_it-s-depressing-that-ambition-and-femini_3163516.jpg) > “It's depressing that ambition and feminism have become almost dirty words for working women. But, there is no reason that they should be and, increasingly, I am struck by how the next generation is challenging conceptions of what it means to be successful at work.” [Karren Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karren-brady/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ambition and feminism are unfairly stigmatized for women, yet younger workers are redefining success on their own terms. **In simple terms:** Women face bias but are reshaping success. Key Takeaway Embrace ambition without shame. Themes gender career empowerment stereotypes Mood determined hopeful Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - corporate leadership - career planning - mentorship - policy advocacy Key Concepts feminism ambition cultural shift Questions to Reflect On - How can workplaces celebrate ambition and feminism together? - What barriers still discourage women from being ambitious? A Different Perspective Societal expectations can still limit progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Ambition Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition-feminism-1450851/) [Dirty words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dirty-words/) [Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Feminism Dirty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism-dirty-735339/) [Generation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generation/) [Generation Challenging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generation-challenging-5727971/) [Next generation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next-generation/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/) [Women Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women-reason-1136056/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Working women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-women/) ## Related quotes > [I feel bad that people think that "feminism" is a dirty word. I don't understand that at all, I'm proud to be labeled a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/i-feel-bad-that-people-think-that-feminism-is-a-dirty-word-i-don-t/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [I hate how box office failures are blamed on an actress, yet I don’t see a box office failure blamed on men. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-page/i-hate-how-box-office-failures-are-blamed-on-an-actress-yet-i-don-t-2/) [Ellen Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-page/) > [In the same way Marxism robs workers of ambition, Feminism robs men and women of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-molyneux/in-the-same-way-marxism-robs-workers-of-ambition-feminism-robs-men/) [Stefan Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-molyneux/) > [I remember getting to college and all of a sudden realizing that feminism was a dirty word to a lot of people and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quiara-alegria-hudes/i-remember-getting-to-college-and-all-of-a-sudden-realizing-that/) [Quiara Alegria Hudes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quiara-alegria-hudes/) > [Feminism was a dirty word for a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-richardson/feminism-was-a-dirty-word-for-a-while/) [Miranda Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-richardson/) > [“Feminism is not a dirty word. It does not mean you hate men, it does not mean you hate girls that have nice legs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-nash/feminism-is-not-a-dirty-word-it-does-not-mean-you-hate-men-it-does/) [Kate Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-nash/) > [For women in, say, Alabama, 'feminism' is a dirty word. They would never march in the streets. But although they don't think of themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanna-rosin/for-women-in-say-alabama-feminism-is-a-dirty-word-they-would-never/) [Hanna Rosin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanna-rosin/) > [My generation was not only maligned in book reviews and attacked in graduate school but we lived to see our adored and adorable daughters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/my-generation-was-not-only-maligned-in-book-reviews-and-attacked-in/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [It's tragic when people think feminism is a dirty word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siobhan-fahey/it-s-tragic-when-people-think-feminism-is-a-dirty-word/) [Siobhan Fahey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siobhan-fahey/) > [Architecture is particularly difficult for women; there's no reason for it to be. I don't want to blame men or society, but I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zaha-hadid/architecture-is-particularly-difficult-for-women-there-s-no-reason/) [Zaha Hadid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaha-hadid/) > [Men give the same lines to different women for the same reason women wear the same perfume for different men; we all try the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/men-give-the-same-lines-to-different-women-for-the-same-reason-women/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [Women were the reason I became a monk - and, ah, the reason I switched back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-avellone/women-were-the-reason-i-became-a-monk-and-ah-the-reason-i-switched/) [Chris Avellone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-avellone/) > [Women are the reason why mankind exists. Let's give them their due.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhinav-shukla/women-are-the-reason-why-mankind-exists-let-s-give-them-their-due/) [Abhinav Shukla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhinav-shukla/) > [Women never reason, and therefore they are (comparatively) seldom wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/women-never-reason-and-therefore-they-are-comparatively-seldom-wrong/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [“Women are the reason of the existence of men.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nkosiyazi-shange/women-are-the-reason-of-the-existence-of-men/) [Nkosiyazi Shange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nkosiyazi-shange/) ## More by Karren Brady > [I rarely indulge in sweet things but when I do I do not like to share.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karren-brady/i-rarely-indulge-in-sweet-things-but-when-i-do-i-do-not-like-to-share/) [Karren Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karren-brady/) > [Hard work will always bring opportunities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karren-brady/hard-work-will-always-bring-opportunities/) [Karren Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karren-brady/) > [I don't believe in quotas for quotas sake, but I think companies without any women on their boards should write to their shareholders and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karren-brady/i-don-t-believe-in-quotas-for-quotas-sake-but-i-think-companies/) [Karren Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karren-brady/) > [I think it's a very old fashioned attitude, that you've got to wear short skirts and a lot of make up to get on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karren-brady/i-think-it-s-a-very-old-fashioned-attitude-that-you-ve-got-to-wear/) [Karren Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karren-brady/) > [My kids are my life. 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It's about determination, it's about enthusiasm, it's about strategy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karren-brady/the-characteristics-of-successful-business-people-whether-they-are/) [Karren Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karren-brady/) > [It is critical to create opportunities to identify talented women in business, then support them to develop their confidence to aim for the boardroom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karren-brady/it-is-critical-to-create-opportunities-to-identify-talented-women-in/) [Karren Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karren-brady/) > [I'm the sort of person who doesn't hear the word 'no' - I hear 'find another way to get what you want.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karren-brady/i-m-the-sort-of-person-who-doesn-t-hear-the-word-no-i-hear-find/) [Karren Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karren-brady/) > [The worst kind of businesses are ones where there are no expectations set out for employees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karren-brady/the-worst-kind-of-businesses-are-ones-where-there-are-no-expectations/) [Karren Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karren-brady/) > [You take responsibility for your children but you're not always the taxi driver and that doesn't make you a bad parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karren-brady/you-take-responsibility-for-your-children-but-you-re-not-always-the/) [Karren Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karren-brady/) > [I was called fried eggs and all that at school. Size does matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karren-brady/i-was-called-fried-eggs-and-all-that-at-school-size-does-matter/) [Karren Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karren-brady/) > [Good managers ensure good outcomes, but great leaders can deliver a vision by getting people to work together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karren-brady/good-managers-ensure-good-outcomes-but-great-leaders-can-deliver-a/) [Karren Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karren-brady/) > [In my experience, not all women want to run the world. Not all women want to run a big banking conglomerate. Not all women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karren-brady/in-my-experience-not-all-women-want-to-run-the-world-not-all-women/) [Karren Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karren-brady/) [Explore all 102 Karren Brady quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karren-brady/) ## More Ambition quotes > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-s-worth-is-no-greater-than-the-worth-of-his-ambitions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [Work towards your goal and dont watch the post size,its either they hate,or like you.there is no room for both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-buabeng/work-towards-your-goal-and-dont-watch-the-post-size-its-either-they/) [Isaac Buabeng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-buabeng/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [I play for high stakes and given an audience - there is no act too daring or too noble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-play-for-high-stakes-and-given-an-audience-there-is-no-act-too/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There's nothing worse than a leader who lacks ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-leader-who-lacks-ambition/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If i can't even protect my captain's dream, then whatever ambition i have is nothing but talk..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoro/if-i-can-t-even-protect-my-captain-s-dream-then-whatever-ambition-i/) [Zoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoro/) > [It may seem unattainable but if you put actions, your heart and your mind into it, you will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/it-may-seem-unattainable-but-if-you-put-actions-your-heart-and-your/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [Obligation is what's leading us to toward successful, and what keeps us moving towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/obligation-is-what-s-leading-us-to-toward-successful-and-what-keeps/) [Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/) [Browse all 4,601 Ambition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's depressing that ambition and feminism have become almost dirty words for working women. 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