--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nobody thinks quotas are a great win for…" description: "\"Nobody thinks quotas are a great win for women - the win would be removing the discrimination and inequality that creates under-representation in the f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d66/laura-bates-18867_discrimination_nobody-thinks-quotas-are-a-great-win-for_1859583.jpg" --- # Nobody thinks quotas are a great win for women - the win… ![“Nobody thinks quotas are a great win for women - the win would be removing the discrimination and inequality that creates under-representation in the first place. But in the short term, alongside other measures, they can be an effective way to make progress happen faster.” quote by Laura Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d66/laura-bates-18867_discrimination_nobody-thinks-quotas-are-a-great-win-for_1859583.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d66/laura-bates-18867_discrimination_nobody-thinks-quotas-are-a-great-win-for_1859583.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d66/laura-bates-18867_discrimination_nobody-thinks-quotas-are-a-great-win-for_1859583.jpg) > “Nobody thinks quotas are a great win for women - the win would be removing the discrimination and inequality that creates under-representation in the first place. But in the short term, alongside other measures, they can be an effective way to make progress happen faster.” [Laura Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bates/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Quotas can temporarily boost women's representation, but true equality requires eliminating underlying discrimination and inequality. **In simple terms:** Quotas help now, but real change needs ending bias. Key Takeaway Address bias, not just numbers. Themes equality representation policy shortterm longterm Mood critical analytical Type policy analysis When to use this quote - Corporate hiring - political appointments - academic admissions - sports teams Key Concepts Affirmative action systemic bias social justice Questions to Reflect On - What structural changes are needed beyond quotas? - How can quotas be implemented without reinforcing stereotypes? A Different Perspective Quotas may cause backlash or tokenism if not paired with cultural change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Discrimination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discrimination/) [Faster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faster/) [First place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Inequality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inequality/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Quota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quota/) [Quotas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quotas-617829/) [Quotas Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quotas-great-2494239/) [Removing Discrimination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/removing-discrimination-2494240/) [Representation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/representation/) [Short term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-term/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thinks Quotas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinks-quotas-2494238/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Win Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/win-women-373113/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [If you think quotas mean the best person not getting the job, you have to believe that the best person always gets the job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bates/if-you-think-quotas-mean-the-best-person-not-getting-the-job-you-have/) [Laura Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bates/) > [We do not believe in quotas. They would not only be undesirable, they would be illegal. There is legal protection for the autonomy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-willetts/we-do-not-believe-in-quotas-they-would-not-only-be-undesirable-they/) [David Willetts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-willetts/) > [Quotas are a perfectly logical, if diabolical, extension of the regulation of private property courtesy of the Civil Rights Act, whereby in an attempt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilana-mercer/quotas-are-a-perfectly-logical-if-diabolical-extension-of-the/) [Ilana Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilana-mercer/) > [Hiring quotas reduce efficiency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/hiring-quotas-reduce-efficiency/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [The Australian way of affirmative action is setting goals and recognising discrimination and lack of opportunity and deciding to take action and setting some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-bryce/the-australian-way-of-affirmative-action-is-setting-goals-and/) [Quentin Bryce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-bryce/) > [Here's the point - you're looking at affirmative action, and you're looking at marijuana. You legalize marijuana, no need for quotas, because really, who's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/here-s-the-point-you-re-looking-at-affirmative-action-and-you-re/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [Quotas are bad for America. It's not the way America is all about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/quotas-are-bad-for-america-it-s-not-the-way-america-is-all-about/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I'm not a believer that you should set quotas for these things, because I think what happens is no matter how qualified the woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christy-clark/i-m-not-a-believer-that-you-should-set-quotas-for-these-things/) [Christy Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christy-clark/) > [If you still are growing, you go through the archetype of the statesman or stateswoman. You stop asking "What are my quotas?" and stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/if-you-still-are-growing-you-go-through-the-archetype-of-the/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [I don't believe in quotas. America was founded on a philosophy of individual rights, not group rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/i-don-t-believe-in-quotas-america-was-founded-on-a-philosophy-of/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [I'm not out for quotas. I'm out to attract the best young men and women of our nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-amos/i-m-not-out-for-quotas-i-m-out-to-attract-the-best-young-men-and/) [James F. Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-amos/) > [A quota for women always amounts to a failure of politics. For me, economics is first and foremost the ability to act freely without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristina-schroder/a-quota-for-women-always-amounts-to-a-failure-of-politics-for-me/) [Kristina Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristina-schroder/) > [Affirmative action based on quotas is wrong - wrong because it is antithetical to the genius of the American idea: individual liberty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kemp/affirmative-action-based-on-quotas-is-wrong-wrong-because-it-is/) [Jack Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kemp/) > [We believe that visa quotas should be lifted and people should visit anywhere they wish freely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-ahmadinejad/we-believe-that-visa-quotas-should-be-lifted-and-people-should-visit/) [Mahmoud Ahmadinejad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-ahmadinejad/) > [I think there are some things ... that may even be distorted in the practice, such as some affirmative action programs becoming quota systems.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-think-there-are-some-things-that-may-even-be-distorted-in-the/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## More by Laura Bates > [The argument goes that the pay gap only exists because of women's 'choices' of work type, hours, and child related career breaks, effectively making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bates/the-argument-goes-that-the-pay-gap-only-exists-because-of-women-s/) [Laura Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bates/) > [“Newton: but a lot of the guys here were in prison before they came here and they’ll still be in prison when they leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bates/newton-but-a-lot-of-the-guys-here-were-in-prison-before-they-came/) [Laura Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bates/) > [In order to achieve that end goal of equality it is a very gendered oppression primarily affecting women that needs to be tackled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bates/in-order-to-achieve-that-end-goal-of-equality-it-is-a-very-gendered/) [Laura Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bates/) > [“It is not our conscience that torments us over our image; that is our ego tormenting us. Our conscience torments us when we behave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bates/it-is-not-our-conscience-that-torments-us-over-our-image-that-is-our/) [Laura Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bates/) > [Feminism means believing that everybody should be treated equally regardless of their sex. Which happens to include the right to wear whatever you want,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bates/feminism-means-believing-that-everybody-should-be-treated-equally/) [Laura Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bates/) > [“Just got called a slag by two guys sitting outside the University of York library. A slag for books?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bates/just-got-called-a-slag-by-two-guys-sitting-outside-the-university-of/) [Laura Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bates/) > [It's true that the gender pay gap is complicated. It's true that it is very slowly getting smaller. But that doesn't mean it doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bates/it-s-true-that-the-gender-pay-gap-is-complicated-it-s-true-that-it-is/) [Laura Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bates/) > [The idea that men 'lose control' around a woman in a short skirt is insulting to men, completely relieves perpetrators of responsibility, and erases…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bates/the-idea-that-men-lose-control-around-a-woman-in-a-short-skirt-is/) [Laura Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bates/) > [Turns out, this 'whatabboutery' is a classic way of silencing women when you don't like what they're fighting for. Don't panic, feminists are quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bates/turns-out-this-whatabboutery-is-a-classic-way-of-silencing-women-when/) [Laura Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bates/) > [The idea that feminism is a 'battle of the sexes' about blaming all men and setting up a 'gender war' is a handy, controversial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bates/the-idea-that-feminism-is-a-battle-of-the-sexes-about-blaming-all-men/) [Laura Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bates/) > [As long as 85,000 women are raped every year and 400,000 sexually assaulted in England and Wales alone, it's hard to argue that there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bates/as-long-as-85-000-women-are-raped-every-year-and-400-000-sexually/) [Laura Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bates/) > [We can't create a shift in normalised attitudes and behaviours without everybody on board, so not being sexist isn't enough - get stuck in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bates/we-can-t-create-a-shift-in-normalised-attitudes-and-behaviours/) [Laura Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bates/) > [“This is a battle that we will win. Because women are wittier, brighter, stronger and braver than a misogynistic and patriarchal world has given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bates/this-is-a-battle-that-we-will-win-because-women-are-wittier-brighter/) [Laura Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bates/) > [“...I think a lot of my misery was me hating me, and hating me made me hate everyone else. I felt like such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bates/i-think-a-lot-of-my-misery-was-me-hating-me-and-hating-me-made-me/) [Laura Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bates/) > [A huge amount of what feminists are fighting for would have major positive impact for men as well as women. Take the male suicide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bates/a-huge-amount-of-what-feminists-are-fighting-for-would-have-major/) [Laura Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bates/) [Explore all 34 Laura Bates quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bates/) ## More Discrimination quotes > [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [Jesus never said a word about homosexuality. In all of his teachings about multiple things - he never said that gay people should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/jesus-never-said-a-word-about-homosexuality-in-all-of-his-teachings/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [In a general way, the literature of the twentieth century is essentially psychological; and psychology consists of describing states of the soul by displaying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/in-a-general-way-the-literature-of-the-twentieth-century-is/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [“Mental illness is not something you misunderstand in this era. Get educated because bias is no different than racism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/mental-illness-is-not-something-you-misunderstand-in-this-era-get/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [I believe that those who promote discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or any other grounds are gravely mistaken about the values that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-clinton/i-believe-that-those-who-promote-discrimination-on-the-basis-of/) [Bill Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-clinton/) > [Each Act of Parliament intended to address harassment and discrimination has faced objections on the basis of 'you'll never be able to prove...' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-field/each-act-of-parliament-intended-to-address-harassment-and/) [Tim Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-field/) > [Nothing better protects a human being against the stupidity of prejudice, racism, religious or political sectarianism, and exclusivist nationalism than this truth that invariably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/nothing-better-protects-a-human-being-against-the-stupidity-of/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [It is obvious that discrimination exists. Women do not have the opportunities that men do. And women that do not conform to the system,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/it-is-obvious-that-discrimination-exists-women-do-not-have-the/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [The fact is that in too many parts of our country, we still have discrimination. And affirmative action is not just something that applies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/the-fact-is-that-in-too-many-parts-of-our-country-we-still-have/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [Judging someone by the color of their skin is ignorant. Their skin complexion has nothing to do with their morals, beliefs or intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/judging-someone-by-the-color-of-their-skin-is-ignorant-their-skin/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We try to take a very strong stance against discrimination and hatred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-blecharczyk/we-try-to-take-a-very-strong-stance-against-discrimination-and-hatred/) [Nathan Blecharczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-blecharczyk/) > [I resolutely believe that respect for diversity is a fundamental pillar in the eradication of racism, xenophobia and intolerance. There is no excuse for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/i-resolutely-believe-that-respect-for-diversity-is-a-fundamental/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [End discrimination and hate everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candy/end-discrimination-and-hate-everyone/) [Candy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candy/) > [This bill would allow an employee to bring a claim against an employer decades after the alleged initial act of discrimination occurred. Trial lawyers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-mckeon/this-bill-would-allow-an-employee-to-bring-a-claim-against-an/) [Buck McKeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-mckeon/) > [Legal discrimination between the sexes is, in almost every instance, founded on outmoded views of society and the pre-scientific beliefs about psychology and physiology.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/legal-discrimination-between-the-sexes-is-in-almost-every-instance/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) [Browse all 1,366 Discrimination quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discrimination/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nobody thinks quotas are a great win for women - the win would be removing the discrimination and inequality that creates under-representation in the first place. But in the short term, alongside other measures, they can be an effective way to make progress happen faster.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Laura Bates" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bates/nobody-thinks-quotas-are-a-great-win-for-women-the-win-would-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Discrimination" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bates/nobody-thinks-quotas-are-a-great-win-for-women-the-win-would-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d66/laura-bates-18867_discrimination_nobody-thinks-quotas-are-a-great-win-for_1859583.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d66/laura-bates-18867_discrimination_nobody-thinks-quotas-are-a-great-win-for_1859583.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d66/laura-bates-18867_discrimination_nobody-thinks-quotas-are-a-great-win-for_1859583.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Nobody thinks quotas are a great win for women - the win would be removing the discrimination and inequality…” — Laura Bates", "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": "Laura Bates", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bates/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Nobody thinks quotas are a great...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bates/nobody-thinks-quotas-are-a-great-win-for-women-the-win-would-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bates/nobody-thinks-quotas-are-a-great-win-for-women-the-win-would-be/#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 } } ] } ```