Appearing Quote by Kathleen Hall Jamieson
“Women are penalized both for deviating from the masculine norm and for appearing to be masculine. When women try to establish their competence, they are scrutinized for evidence that they lack masculine (instrumental) characteristics as well as for signs that they no longer possess female (expressive) ones. They are taken to fail, in other words, both as a male and as a female.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Language of Gender Politics, Kathleen Hall Jamieson, 2015
Women face double standards: they are judged harshly for both lacking masculine traits and for showing feminine traits, leading to inevitable failure.
In simple terms: Women are penalized for not fitting masculine or feminine expectations.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge double standards.
Themes
gender bias
double standards
identity
social expectations
Mood
frustrated
determined
Type
analytical
critical
When to use this quote
- workplace evaluations
- leadership opportunities
- media representation
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
intersectionality
stereotype threat
role conflict
Questions to Reflect On
- How can institutions redesign evaluation criteria?
- What personal strategies help navigate these pressures?
A Different Perspective
Societal norms often reinforce these biases, making change difficult.
