Lady Quote by Kate Millett
““Lady," we always call each other, partly a joke, partly in earnest, using still the old word, in its full flavor a kind of exorcism against "saleslady," "old lady," "ladylike." Relishing the anachronism, even the formality a type of aphrodisiac, a contrast to our delight in the horny, the vulgar, the vernacular which we cultivate just as ardently.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Sexual Politics, 1970
Uses "Lady" as a playful, subversive term to challenge gendered language and expectations.
In simple terms: "Lady" reclaims and critiques gender norms.
Key Takeaway
Embrace playful subversion.
Themes
gender
language
subversion
Mood
witty
critical
Type
cultural
philosophical
When to use this quote
- social gatherings
- writing
- teaching
Key Concepts
feminist theory
linguistics
Questions to Reflect On
- How does humor shift power?
- When does subversion become alienating?
A Different Perspective
Playful language may be misread as trivial.
![“The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the formulas of nations at war, where any heinousness is justified on the grounds that the enemy is either an inferior [part of the] species or…” quote by Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/895/kate-millett-7301_accompany_the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imp_8896.jpg)
