--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That myth--that image of the…" description: "\"That myth--that image of the madonna-mother--has disabled us from knowing that, just as men are more than fathers, women are morethan mothers. It has k..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/258/lillian-b-rubin-23157_achievement_that-myth-that-image-of-the-madonna-moth_1783505.jpg" --- # That myth--that image of the madonna-mother--has disabled… ![“That myth--that image of the madonna-mother--has disabled us from knowing that, just as men are more than fathers, women are morethan mothers. It has kept us from hearing their voices when they try to tell us their aspirations . . . kept us from believing that they share with men the desire for…” quote by Lillian B. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/258/lillian-b-rubin-23157_achievement_that-myth-that-image-of-the-madonna-moth_1783505.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/258/lillian-b-rubin-23157_achievement_that-myth-that-image-of-the-madonna-moth_1783505.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/258/lillian-b-rubin-23157_achievement_that-myth-that-image-of-the-madonna-moth_1783505.jpg) > “That myth--that image of the madonna-mother--has disabled us from knowing that, just as men are more than fathers, women are morethan mothers. It has kept us from hearing their voices when they try to tell us their aspirations . . . kept us from believing that they share with men the desire for achievement, mastery, competence--the desire to do something for themselves.” [Lillian B. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-b-rubin/) ## 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 limit women’s identities to motherhood, silencing their broader ambitions and capabilities. **In simple terms:** Women are reduced to mothers, hiding their aspirations. Key Takeaway Recognize and support women’s goals beyond motherhood. Themes gender identity voice aspiration Mood determined hopeful Type inspirational social commentary When to use this quote - career planning - education - leadership - creative projects Key Concepts feminist theory social roles Questions to Reflect On - How can institutions amplify women’s non‑maternal voices? - What personal steps can you take to support women’s broader ambitions? A Different Perspective Women may still face structural barriers despite awareness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) [Aspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aspiration/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Competence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competence/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Disabled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disabled/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Hearing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hearing/) [Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing/) [Madonna Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madonna-mother-1883040/) [Mastery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mastery/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Morethan Mothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morethan-mothers-1883039/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Mothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mothers/) [Myth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myth/) [Myth Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myth-image-1883041/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Share](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/share/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) ## Related quotes > [A myth is an image in terms of which we try to make sense of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/a-myth-is-an-image-in-terms-of-which-we-try-to-make-sense-of-the-world/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [I know Madonna as a mother, and she's exemplary, the love she gives her kids is a dream, and I know that her heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-martin/i-know-madonna-as-a-mother-and-she-s-exemplary-the-love-she-gives-her/) [Ricky Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-martin/) > [“The oldest problem in economic education is how to exclude the incompetent. 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Today, as you are aware, Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-noor-of-jordan/i-have-been-a-long-time-advocate-for-a-just-arab-israeli-peace-and/) [Queen Noor of Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-noor-of-jordan/) > [“I knew I was disabled when everyday home activities became overwhelming!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-knew-i-was-disabled-when-everyday-home-activities-became/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [I have joined the BJP to help disabled people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sudha-chandran/i-have-joined-the-bjp-to-help-disabled-people/) [Sudha Chandran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sudha-chandran/) > [If you're disabled or different from what general society deems normal, it's fine. There will always be people who won't accept you, but there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/if-you-re-disabled-or-different-from-what-general-society-deems/) [Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/) > [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/) ## More by Lillian B. Rubin > [Contrary to all we hear about women and their empty-nest problem, it may be fathers more often than mothers who are pained by thechildren's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-b-rubin/contrary-to-all-we-hear-about-women-and-their-empty-nest-problem-it/) [Lillian B. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-b-rubin/) > [Sexual freedom is about choice. It's the freedom to say no as well as yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-b-rubin/sexual-freedom-is-about-choice-it-s-the-freedom-to-say-no-as-well-as/) [Lillian B. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-b-rubin/) > [The ideal visions of one age eventually are seen as its excesses by the next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-b-rubin/the-ideal-visions-of-one-age-eventually-are-seen-as-its-excesses-by/) [Lillian B. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-b-rubin/) > [Society and personality live in a continuing reciprocal relation with each other. The search for personal change without efforts to change the institutions within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-b-rubin/society-and-personality-live-in-a-continuing-reciprocal-relation-with/) [Lillian B. 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Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-b-rubin/) > [We are a society that values a man for what he does in the world, a woman for how she looks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-b-rubin/we-are-a-society-that-values-a-man-for-what-he-does-in-the-world-a/) [Lillian B. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-b-rubin/) > [How then can we account for the persistence of the myth that inside the empty nest lives a shattered and depressed shell of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-b-rubin/how-then-can-we-account-for-the-persistence-of-the-myth-that-inside/) [Lillian B. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-b-rubin/) > [For those who have lived on the edge of poverty all their lives, the semblance of poverty affected by the affluent is both incomprehensible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-b-rubin/for-those-who-have-lived-on-the-edge-of-poverty-all-their-lives-the/) [Lillian B. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-b-rubin/) > [For sex to be wholly satisfying, we must have at least as much concern for a partner as for self - a requirement that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-b-rubin/for-sex-to-be-wholly-satisfying-we-must-have-at-least-as-much-concern/) [Lillian B. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-b-rubin/) > [Indeed, it is that ambiguity and ambivalence which often is so puzzling in women--the quality of shifting from child to woman, theseeming helplessness one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-b-rubin/indeed-it-is-that-ambiguity-and-ambivalence-which-often-is-so/) [Lillian B. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-b-rubin/) > [By identifying with the powerful, the disempowered achieve a measure of safety, at least for a moment. By doing the bidding of those in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-b-rubin/by-identifying-with-the-powerful-the-disempowered-achieve-a-measure/) [Lillian B. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-b-rubin/) > [Interesting, isn't it, that even though more than two and a half decades have passed since the sexual revolution brought women a new measure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-b-rubin/interesting-isn-t-it-that-even-though-more-than-two-and-a-half/) [Lillian B. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-b-rubin/) > [No revolution creates a wholly new universe. Rather, it reflects the history and culture that spawned it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-b-rubin/no-revolution-creates-a-wholly-new-universe-rather-it-reflects-the/) [Lillian B. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-b-rubin/) [Explore all 26 Lillian B. Rubin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-b-rubin/) ## More Achievement quotes > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [“If attempting to make the world a civilized one, makes you a bad woman in the eyes of the dumb patriarchal society, then, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-attempting-to-make-the-world-a-civilized-one-makes-you-a-bad-woman/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. Only he is great who subjects himself to taking part in the achievement of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/one-achieves-true-human-dignity-only-when-one-serves-only-he-is-great/) [Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/) > [Needs cause motivation. 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If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [It's tragic what America has become because there is a great segment of society that now resents luxury and success and achievement by others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-leach/it-s-tragic-what-america-has-become-because-there-is-a-great-segment/) [Robin Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-leach/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. 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Solitude will transmit the message better than the murmurs of crowds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-roerich/cease-speaking-of-enemies-when-an-achievement-can-kindle-a-great/) [Nicholas Roerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-roerich/) > [Every scene is a challenge. There are technical challenges, but often it's the simplest challenge where you feel a sense of achievement when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/every-scene-is-a-challenge-there-are-technical-challenges-but-often/) [Roger Deakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/) [Browse all 3,867 Achievement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That myth--that image of the madonna-mother--has disabled us from knowing that, just as men are more than fathers, women are morethan mothers. 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