--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Women are often forced to maintain good…" description: "\"Women are often forced to maintain good relations with men who abuse them precisely because those men have power.\" — Kirsten Powers" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eed/kirsten-powers-9672_abuse_women-are-often-forced-to-maintain-good_195110.png" --- # Women are often forced to maintain good relations with men… ![“Women are often forced to maintain good relations with men who abuse them precisely because those men have power.” quote by Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eed/kirsten-powers-9672_abuse_women-are-often-forced-to-maintain-good_195110.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eed/kirsten-powers-9672_abuse_women-are-often-forced-to-maintain-good_195110.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eed/kirsten-powers-9672_abuse_women-are-often-forced-to-maintain-good_195110.png) > “Women are often forced to maintain good relations with men who abuse them precisely because those men have power.” [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Power dynamics often force women to maintain relationships with abusive men, revealing systemic oppression. **In simple terms:** Women stay linked to abusers because of power imbalance. Key Takeaway Address power imbalances to protect vulnerable. Themes gender power abuse relationships Mood empathetic serious Type critical advocacy When to use this quote - workplace - family - intimate partnerships Key Concepts social hierarchy psychological coercion Questions to Reflect On - What societal changes can reduce this pressure? - How can individuals safely exit abusive dynamics? A Different Perspective Changing power structures is complex and slow. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) [Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/) ## Related quotes > [It has been shrewdly said, that when, men abuse us we should suspect ourselves, and when they praise us, them. It is a rare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/it-has-been-shrewdly-said-that-when-men-abuse-us-we-should-suspect/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [“Don't you see? The man was just using me to cover up his misdeeds, as all men are wont to do. It's in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karpov-kinrade/don-t-you-see-the-man-was-just-using-me-to-cover-up-his-misdeeds-as/) [Karpov Kinrade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karpov-kinrade/) > [Too many women are forced to abort by poverty, by their menfolk, by their parents ... A choice is only possible if there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germaine-greer/too-many-women-are-forced-to-abort-by-poverty-by-their-menfolk-by/) [Germaine Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germaine-greer/) > [Feminism's agenda is basic: It asks that women not be forced to 'choose' between public justice and private happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-faludi/feminism-s-agenda-is-basic-it-asks-that-women-not-be-forced-to-choose/) [Susan Faludi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-faludi/) > [I get angry about the way women are forced and bullied into what the male ideal is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-peake/i-get-angry-about-the-way-women-are-forced-and-bullied-into-what-the/) [Maxine Peake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-peake/) > [Some women are forced by men to look a certain way to be accepted by the general public, and I find that terrible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alessandro-michele/some-women-are-forced-by-men-to-look-a-certain-way-to-be-accepted-by/) [Alessandro Michele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alessandro-michele/) > [I really believe that women have much easier access to their souls than men do. Because as men we're taught to wear masks, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rzeznik/i-really-believe-that-women-have-much-easier-access-to-their-souls/) [John Rzeznik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rzeznik/) > [Helen Crawfurd and the Women's Peace Crusade, made a march on the City Chambers, distributing an illegal leaflet in front of police and even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-gallacher/helen-crawfurd-and-the-women-s-peace-crusade-made-a-march-on-the-city/) Willie Gallacher > [“When men decided women could be educated - this is what I think - they educated them on the male plan; they put them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/when-men-decided-women-could-be-educated-this-is-what-i-think-they/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [Most men and women are forced to perform parts for which they have no qualification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/most-men-and-women-are-forced-to-perform-parts-for-which-they-have-no/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I was treated better than others, simply because there was so much public attention. In my case, they did adhere to the eight-hour workday…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/i-was-treated-better-than-others-simply-because-there-was-so-much/) [Nadezhda Tolokonnikova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadezhda-tolokonnikova/) > [Women are an enslaved population - the crop we harvest is children, the fields we work are houses. Women are forced into committing sexual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-dworkin/women-are-an-enslaved-population-the-crop-we-harvest-is-children-the/) [Andrea Dworkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-dworkin/) > [Women are forced to pretend to be men. They're feigning this toughness. They're miserable. Study after study has shown that feminism has made women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-mcinnes/women-are-forced-to-pretend-to-be-men-they-re-feigning-this-toughness/) [Gavin McInnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-mcinnes/) > [ American society \[...\] not only sanctions gross and unfair relations among men, but it encourages them. Now, can that be denied? No. Rivalry, competition,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/american-society-not-only-sanctions-gross-and-unfair-relations-among/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [In the mythic schema of all relations between men and women, man proposes, and woman is disposed of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-carter/in-the-mythic-schema-of-all-relations-between-men-and-women-man/) [Angela Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-carter/) ## More by Kirsten Powers > [Illiberal feminists turn simple ideological disagreements, whether about the federal budget or the Second Amendment or anything else, into excuses to engage in character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/illiberal-feminists-turn-simple-ideological-disagreements-whether/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [Within the paradigm of Democratic politics, even though people probably think I'm a centrist, I'm more a liberal, except for abortion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/within-the-paradigm-of-democratic-politics-even-though-people/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [Trump loves free speech only when he or his supporters are speaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/trump-loves-free-speech-only-when-he-or-his-supporters-are-speaking/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [Protesters can't violate First Amendment rights. Only the government can do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/protesters-can-t-violate-first-amendment-rights-only-the-government/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [If I had a dollar for every time somebody said, 'I don't understand: how can you be a Democrat and be a Christian?' I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-somebody-said-i-don-t-understand-how/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [It's true that Americans are less than thrilled with President Obama and congressional Democrats. Their approval ratings are nothing to celebrate. But electoral politics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/it-s-true-that-americans-are-less-than-thrilled-with-president-obama/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [Women likely are rejecting Trump because they know the presidential race isn't just about taxes or ISIL or immigration. It's about their place in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/women-likely-are-rejecting-trump-because-they-know-the-presidential/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [Bernie is a problem Hillary can't figure out how to solve, perhaps because he's not the problem. She is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/bernie-is-a-problem-hillary-can-t-figure-out-how-to-solve-perhaps/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [Perhaps all of our anxiety is not caused by broken brains but by working nonstop, missing out on time with our friends and families…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/perhaps-all-of-our-anxiety-is-not-caused-by-broken-brains-but-by/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [I've been harassed or on the receiving end of sexist and inappropriate behavior almost every place I've ever worked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/i-ve-been-harassed-or-on-the-receiving-end-of-sexist-and/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [Trump may not like the fact that 20-plus anonymous sources provided the 'Times' with an unflattering portrait of his campaign, but that doesn't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/trump-may-not-like-the-fact-that-20-plus-anonymous-sources-provided/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [Donald Trump has a curious understanding of what freedom of speech means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/donald-trump-has-a-curious-understanding-of-what-freedom-of-speech/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [I know I deal with it, I'm sure a lot of other people deal with it: you have that little funny dig you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/i-know-i-deal-with-it-i-m-sure-a-lot-of-other-people-deal-with-it-you/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [People are really nice at Fox.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/people-are-really-nice-at-fox/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [Women cannot be equal participants in a society that views sexual assault and sexual harassment the way Donald Trump and his defenders do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/women-cannot-be-equal-participants-in-a-society-that-views-sexual/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) [Explore all 71 Kirsten Powers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) ## More Abuse quotes > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [Being nice is okay,but don't allow anybody to abuse it...try to fight for your self when you know your on the right way...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-nice-is-okay-but-don-t-allow-anybody-to-abuse-it-try-to-fight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Build a bridge over shame by teaching kids about sexual abuse. Give them a chance to run to us should they encounter it. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-byers-ruch/build-a-bridge-over-shame-by-teaching-kids-about-sexual-abuse-give/) [Carolyn Byers Ruch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-byers-ruch/) > [It is sure that those are most desirous of honour or glory who cry out loudest of its abuse and the vanity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/it-is-sure-that-those-are-most-desirous-of-honour-or-glory-who-cry/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [“The sole reason I stand to open it up now is that lots of people who are in pain just like I was, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-dsouza/the-sole-reason-i-stand-to-open-it-up-now-is-that-lots-of-people-who/) [Patricia Dsouza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-dsouza/) > [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [I have a theory that all abuse, no matter what kind of abuse it is, is foremost an assault on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-westover/i-have-a-theory-that-all-abuse-no-matter-what-kind-of-abuse-it-is-is/) [Tara Westover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-westover/) > [“Blaming therapy, social work and other caring professions for the confabulation of testimony of 'satanic ritual abuse' legitimated a programme of political and social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/blaming-therapy-social-work-and-other-caring-professions-for-the/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [Finally, the scariest thing about abuse of any shape or form, is, in my opinion, not the abuse itself, but that if it continues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/finally-the-scariest-thing-about-abuse-of-any-shape-or-form-is-in-my/) [Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/) > [“Research on organised abuse emphasises the diversity of organised abuse cases, and the ways in which serious forms of child maltreatment cluster in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/research-on-organised-abuse-emphasises-the-diversity-of-organised/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [“Stand up for yourself. Never give any one permission to abuse you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/stand-up-for-yourself-never-give-any-one-permission-to-abuse-you/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [All governments should be pressured to correct their abuses of human rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stallman/all-governments-should-be-pressured-to-correct-their-abuses-of-human/) [Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stallman/) > [“Words are free. It does not mean you should abuse them. Be kind with them. They will mirror your actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hadinet-tekie/words-are-free-it-does-not-mean-you-should-abuse-them-be-kind-with/) [Hadinet Tekie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hadinet-tekie/) > [My illness is one often characterized by dramatic overspending - in my case through frenzied shopping sprees, credit card abuse, excessive hoarding of unnecessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/my-illness-is-one-often-characterized-by-dramatic-overspending-in-my/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) [Browse all 3,113 Abuse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Women are often forced to maintain good relations with men who abuse them precisely because those men have power.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kirsten Powers" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/women-are-often-forced-to-maintain-good-relations-with-men-who-abuse/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Abuse" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/women-are-often-forced-to-maintain-good-relations-with-men-who-abuse/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eed/kirsten-powers-9672_abuse_women-are-often-forced-to-maintain-good_195110.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eed/kirsten-powers-9672_abuse_women-are-often-forced-to-maintain-good_195110.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eed/kirsten-powers-9672_abuse_women-are-often-forced-to-maintain-good_195110.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Women are often forced to maintain good relations with men who abuse them precisely because those men have…” — Kirsten Powers", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Kirsten Powers", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Women are often forced to maintain...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/women-are-often-forced-to-maintain-good-relations-with-men-who-abuse/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/women-are-often-forced-to-maintain-good-relations-with-men-who-abuse/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```