--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Women have been brought up to be passive…" description: "\"Women have been brought up to be passive, accepting, not come forward and play a major role in life. And with age, there's a tendency to revert to that..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cae/katherine-helmond-41044_accepting_women-have-been-brought-up-to-be-passive_2148432.jpg" --- # Women have been brought up to be passive, accepting, not… ![“Women have been brought up to be passive, accepting, not come forward and play a major role in life. And with age, there's a tendency to revert to that - to pull back, recede. I don't think it's advisable or admirable.” quote by Katherine Helmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cae/katherine-helmond-41044_accepting_women-have-been-brought-up-to-be-passive_2148432.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cae/katherine-helmond-41044_accepting_women-have-been-brought-up-to-be-passive_2148432.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cae/katherine-helmond-41044_accepting_women-have-been-brought-up-to-be-passive_2148432.jpg) > “Women have been brought up to be passive, accepting, not come forward and play a major role in life. And with age, there's a tendency to revert to that - to pull back, recede. I don't think it's advisable or admirable.” [Katherine Helmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-helmond/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Societal expectations push women to passive roles, especially with age, which is undesirable. **In simple terms:** Women are often expected to be passive, especially later in life. Key Takeaway Challenge passive expectations. Themes gender society aging agency Mood concerned empowering Type social inspirational When to use this quote - career - family - community - politics Key Concepts feminism social conditioning Questions to Reflect On - How does age affect women's roles? - What steps can empower older women? A Different Perspective Changing deep-rooted norms is difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Roles in life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roles-in-life/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“I played the best role in my life. I had a great director.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ljupka-cvetanova/i-played-the-best-role-in-my-life-i-had-a-great-director/) [Ljupka Cvetanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ljupka-cvetanova/) > [I see myself as mom first. I'm so lucky to have that role in life. The world can like me, hate me or fall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/i-see-myself-as-mom-first-i-m-so-lucky-to-have-that-role-in-life-the/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [If we want to be women of contentment, we must choose to accept our portion, our assigned roles from God. We must make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-dillow/if-we-want-to-be-women-of-contentment-we-must-choose-to-accept-our/) [Linda Dillow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-dillow/) > [Email is a wonderful thing for people whose role in life is to be on top of things. But not for me; my role…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-knuth/email-is-a-wonderful-thing-for-people-whose-role-in-life-is-to-be-on/) [Donald Knuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-knuth/) > [Our role in life is to bring the light of our own souls to the dim places around us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-role-in-life-is-to-bring-the-light-of-our-own-souls-to-the-dim/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The world wants to assign you a role in life. And once you accept that role you are doomed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-world-wants-to-assign-you-a-role-in-life-and-once-you-accept-that/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [I did this role in Life Goes On as an HIV positive character and so emotionally that was the most challenging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-lowe/i-did-this-role-in-life-goes-on-as-an-hiv-positive-character-and-so/) [Chad Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-lowe/) > [However you envisage your role in life, all you can do is perform it as best you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-aldiss/however-you-envisage-your-role-in-life-all-you-can-do-is-perform-it/) [Brian Aldiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-aldiss/) > [No role in life is more important than to be a good mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/no-role-in-life-is-more-important-than-to-be-a-good-mother/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [“It is never ideal to be passive by accepting whatever is personally unacceptable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/it-is-never-ideal-to-be-passive-by-accepting-whatever-is-personally/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [The greatest tragedy of old age is the tendency for the old to feel unneeded, unwanted, and of no use to anyone; the secret…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/the-greatest-tragedy-of-old-age-is-the-tendency-for-the-old-to-feel/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [“Women brought life but the most important origin stories spoke the real truth, which was that women more often brought death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nnedi-okorafor/women-brought-life-but-the-most-important-origin-stories-spoke-the/) [Nnedi Okorafor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nnedi-okorafor/) > [Women were brought up to believe that men were the answer. They weren't. They weren't even one of the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/women-were-brought-up-to-believe-that-men-were-the-answer-they-weren/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [I most sincerely doubt if any other race of women could have brought its fineness up through so devilish a fire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois/i-most-sincerely-doubt-if-any-other-race-of-women-could-have-brought/) [W. E. B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois/) > [ “Women are brought up to think of others. \[...\] When I start to think of myself I feel sick.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/women-are-brought-up-to-think-of-others-when-i-start-to-think-of/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) ## More by Katherine Helmond > [Many times, when a director reads a script and wants somebody who says 'Far out', then they let me do what I want with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-helmond/many-times-when-a-director-reads-a-script-and-wants-somebody-who-says/) [Katherine Helmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-helmond/) > [I was never ambitious to be a good actor. I just love doing it and I seem to be quite suited for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-helmond/i-was-never-ambitious-to-be-a-good-actor-i-just-love-doing-it-and-i/) [Katherine Helmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-helmond/) > [I grew up hearing about the walking undead. I had a fascination with it as a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-helmond/i-grew-up-hearing-about-the-walking-undead-i-had-a-fascination-with/) [Katherine Helmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-helmond/) > [I'd really like to show women my age - who've had children grow up or lost husbands or retired after working all their lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-helmond/i-d-really-like-to-show-women-my-age-who-ve-had-children-grow-up-or/) [Katherine Helmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-helmond/) > [I had TB as a child. So I was put to doing things like drawing and reading. And I was raised in a family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-helmond/i-had-tb-as-a-child-so-i-was-put-to-doing-things-like-drawing-and/) [Katherine Helmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-helmond/) > [I was very lucky with 'Soap' and 'Who's the Boss,' which was great fun, and then went on 'Coach' and 'Everybody Loves Raymond.' I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-helmond/i-was-very-lucky-with-soap-and-who-s-the-boss-which-was-great-fun-and/) [Katherine Helmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-helmond/) > [The choice of roles as I grow older gets more and more limited, so if I pin myself to one kind of part I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-helmond/the-choice-of-roles-as-i-grow-older-gets-more-and-more-limited-so-if/) [Katherine Helmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-helmond/) > [A director recommended me for the role on 'Soap.' They said, 'She plays heavy roles, murderesses and the like.' He said, 'On stage, she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-helmond/a-director-recommended-me-for-the-role-on-soap-they-said-she-plays/) [Katherine Helmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-helmond/) > [I went to Catholic school. Do as you're told; don't ask questions and you will be illuminated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-helmond/i-went-to-catholic-school-do-as-you-re-told-don-t-ask-questions-and/) [Katherine Helmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-helmond/) [Explore all 10 Katherine Helmond quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-helmond/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Women have been brought up to be passive, accepting, not come forward and play a major role in life. And with age, there's a tendency to revert to that - to pull back, recede. 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