--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had more problems with the men in our…" description: "\"I had more problems with the men in our own government, and not because they were male chauvinistic pigs but because they had known me for so long. I m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ea/madeleine-albright-1360_dinner_i-had-more-problems-with-the-men-in-our_1460374.jpg" --- # I had more problems with the men in our own government… ![“I had more problems with the men in our own government, and not because they were male chauvinistic pigs but because they had known me for so long. I might have been a carpool mother and a friend of their wife, and so they'd been to my house for dinner and things like and they thought 'how did she…” quote by Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ea/madeleine-albright-1360_dinner_i-had-more-problems-with-the-men-in-our_1460374.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ea/madeleine-albright-1360_dinner_i-had-more-problems-with-the-men-in-our_1460374.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ea/madeleine-albright-1360_dinner_i-had-more-problems-with-the-men-in-our_1460374.jpg) > “I had more problems with the men in our own government, and not because they were male chauvinistic pigs but because they had known me for so long. I might have been a carpool mother and a friend of their wife, and so they'd been to my house for dinner and things like and they thought 'how did she get to be secretary of state when I should be secretary of state?' So that was more of a problem.” [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She recounts how personal familiarity with male colleagues created bias against her appointment as Secretary of State. **In simple terms:** Personal relationships led to gender bias in her career. Key Takeaway Recognize and address subtle bias in professional settings. Themes gender politics bias career Mood analytical serious Type political reflective When to use this quote - government meetings - career advancement - mentor relationships Key Concepts gender bias networking political appointments Questions to Reflect On - How can institutions mitigate informal bias? - What strategies help women navigate such dynamics? A Different Perspective bias may persist despite competence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dinner/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Males](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/males/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife/) ## Related quotes > [I am often asked if, when I was secretary, I had problems with foreign men. That is not who I had problems with, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/i-am-often-asked-if-when-i-was-secretary-i-had-problems-with-foreign/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [I've known Dennis Kucinich for a long time, and I don't think I have illusions about him. Sometimes I find him pompous, male chauvinistic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-ve-known-dennis-kucinich-for-a-long-time-and-i-don-t-think-i-have/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [It is male-chauvinistic industry, and there's still a long way to go for the female-centric genre to come to the fore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-jeremiah/it-is-male-chauvinistic-industry-and-there-s-still-a-long-way-to-go/) [Andrea Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-jeremiah/) > [He's a male chauvinistic piglet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/he-s-a-male-chauvinistic-piglet/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [We needed someone to recognize the importance of check and balances, accountability, transparency. There was a real systemic problem at South Carolina State, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-ifill/we-needed-someone-to-recognize-the-importance-of-check-and-balances/) [Gwen Ifill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-ifill/) > [As Estelle Jussim wrote, it is almost impossible for a single photograph to state both the problem and the solution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pfahl/as-estelle-jussim-wrote-it-is-almost-impossible-for-a-single/) [John Pfahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pfahl/) > [I believe the way I describe the problems in Chicago is that it's a metropolitan area. I've said that everywhere. The uneducated child is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-daley/i-believe-the-way-i-describe-the-problems-in-chicago-is-that-it-s-a/) [Richard M. Daley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-daley/) > [To solve a problem, you have to be able to state what the problem is or at least say the name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/to-solve-a-problem-you-have-to-be-able-to-state-what-the-problem-is/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Women talk their way through problems; men think their way through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koena-mitra/women-talk-their-way-through-problems-men-think-their-way-through/) [Koena Mitra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koena-mitra/) > [Aerial flight is one of that class of problems with which men will never have to cope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-newcomb/aerial-flight-is-one-of-that-class-of-problems-with-which-men-will/) [Simon Newcomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-newcomb/) > [“Sadly but, perhaps, not altogether unexpectedly this society has had very limited success in achieving what is supposed to be the justification for its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-le-gai-eaton/sadly-but-perhaps-not-altogether-unexpectedly-this-society-has-had/) [Charles Le Gai Eaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-le-gai-eaton/) > [In spite of the fact that the law of revenge solves no social problems, men continue to follow its disastrous leading. History is cluttered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/in-spite-of-the-fact-that-the-law-of-revenge-solves-no-social/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [In many parts of the world, a man's accusing finger always finds a woman. But I think we need women to solve the problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/in-many-parts-of-the-world-a-man-s-accusing-finger-always-finds-a/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [“If women resent men's tendency to offer solutions to problems, men complain about women's refusal to take action to solve the problems.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/if-women-resent-men-s-tendency-to-offer-solutions-to-problems-men/) [Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/) > [Within the covers of the Bible are the answers for all the problems men face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/within-the-covers-of-the-bible-are-the-answers-for-all-the-problems/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## More by Madeleine Albright > [In 1953, the United States played a significant role in orchestrating the overthrow of Iran's popular prime minister, Mohammed Mossadegh. The Eisenhower administration believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/in-1953-the-united-states-played-a-significant-role-in-orchestrating/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [No matter how hard we might wish, we will not be able to transform China's behavior overnight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/no-matter-how-hard-we-might-wish-we-will-not-be-able-to-transform/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [There are a lot of similar aspects in all the religions. The question is which side of it you hold up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/there-are-a-lot-of-similar-aspects-in-all-the-religions-the-question/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [Whatever the job you are asked to do at whatever level, do a good job because your reputation is your resume.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/whatever-the-job-you-are-asked-to-do-at-whatever-level-do-a-good-job/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [I am often asked if, when I was secretary, I had problems with foreign men. That is not who I had problems with, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/i-am-often-asked-if-when-i-was-secretary-i-had-problems-with-foreign/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [Every new president inherits headaches, but President Obama has inherited an entire emergency room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/every-new-president-inherits-headaches-but-president-obama-has/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [I am by nature a worried optimist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/i-am-by-nature-a-worried-optimist/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [If there's nobody in your way, you're not going anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/if-there-s-nobody-in-your-way-you-re-not-going-anywhere/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [I can't imagine what it is like to be raised in a society where their only statues that exist are to you and your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/i-can-t-imagine-what-it-is-like-to-be-raised-in-a-society-where-their/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [I bought ... the pins with my three daughters in mind; the ships are beautiful, graceful, and moving along at full sail, having long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/i-bought-the-pins-with-my-three-daughters-in-mind-the-ships-are/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [“I also think it is important for women to help one another. I have a saying: There is a special place in hell for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/i-also-think-it-is-important-for-women-to-help-one-another-i-have-a/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [The capability of negotiating... is something that means you not only have to understand fully what you believe and what your national interests are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/the-capability-of-negotiating-is-something-that-means-you-not-only/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [I know that war is very cruel and that life is harder when you aren't able to live in the place you called home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/i-know-that-war-is-very-cruel-and-that-life-is-harder-when-you-aren-t/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [Women are more than 50% of almost every country in the world. Countries rob themselves of the resources of women if they keep them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/women-are-more-than-50-of-almost-every-country-in-the-world-countries/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [What you have to be concerned about are the extremists. On the whole, we need to understand the more moderate Muslims before they become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/what-you-have-to-be-concerned-about-are-the-extremists-on-the-whole/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) [Explore all 248 Madeleine Albright quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) ## More Dinner quotes > [The language we share is at the core of our identity as citizens, and our ticket to full participation in American political life. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/the-language-we-share-is-at-the-core-of-our-identity-as-citizens-and/) [S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/) > [My dinners have never interfered with my business. They have been my recreation. . . A public banquet, if eaten with thought and care,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chauncey-depew/my-dinners-have-never-interfered-with-my-business-they-have-been-my/) [Chauncey Depew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chauncey-depew/) > [Anybody can be Prince Charming one day a year, with the dinner and the flowers and all that. But you know what impresses me?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-howard/anybody-can-be-prince-charming-one-day-a-year-with-the-dinner-and-the/) [Ryan Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-howard/) > [“We just went out for dinner. We didn't participate in a Roman orgy, I swear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-dahl/we-just-went-out-for-dinner-we-didn-t-participate-in-a-roman-orgy-i/) [Victoria Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-dahl/) > [Back in the really olden days, dinner was seldom a ceremonial event for U.S. families. Only the very wealthy had a separate dining room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/back-in-the-really-olden-days-dinner-was-seldom-a-ceremonial-event/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [ Music \[is\] the third rail of life. You grabbed it to shock yourself out of the dull drag of hours. To feel something. To… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hill/music-is-the-third-rail-of-life-you-grabbed-it-to-shock-yourself-out/) [Joe Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hill/) > [Sonny Von Bulow, who said to her husband Claus on their honeymoon, Stop needling me. Never got a dinner!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-buttons/sonny-von-bulow-who-said-to-her-husband-claus-on-their-honeymoon-stop/) [Red Buttons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-buttons/) > [Remember, sex is like a Chinese dinner. It ain't over 'til you both get your cookie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alec-baldwin/remember-sex-is-like-a-chinese-dinner-it-ain-t-over-til-you-both-get/) [Alec Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alec-baldwin/) > [I have no social life. There is no time for one. Once in a while I may go to dinner with a friend but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-halliday/i-have-no-social-life-there-is-no-time-for-one-once-in-a-while-i-may/) [Liz Halliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-halliday/) > [I'm not a person who would get up at 5 A.M. to write, but I could sacrifice my Friday night and just order in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-weisberger/i-m-not-a-person-who-would-get-up-at-5-a-m-to-write-but-i-could/) [Lauren Weisberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-weisberger/) > [Challenging is good, like good conversation, yes? Who wants to have dinner with the same old easy listening music sounding friends all the time?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilton-als/challenging-is-good-like-good-conversation-yes-who-wants-to-have/) [Hilton Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilton-als/) > [Once, as an experiment, I travelled around the world with a single suit. Before I left, I went to a tailor in Savile Row…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hamilton/once-as-an-experiment-i-travelled-around-the-world-with-a-single-suit/) [George Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hamilton/) > [I like to be bought flowers and taken out for dinner. I like a man to be a gentleman. I don't like to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-stone/i-like-to-be-bought-flowers-and-taken-out-for-dinner-i-like-a-man-to/) [Sharon Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-stone/) > [Why should the Marquis de Cussy wage war on soup? I cannot understand a dinner without it. I hold soup to be the well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-antoine-careme/why-should-the-marquis-de-cussy-wage-war-on-soup-i-cannot-understand/) [Marie-Antoine Careme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-antoine-careme/) > [Helvetica is the jeans, and Univers the dinner jacket. Helvetica is here to stay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-frutiger/helvetica-is-the-jeans-and-univers-the-dinner-jacket-helvetica-is/) [Adrian Frutiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-frutiger/) [Browse all 2,901 Dinner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dinner/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I had more problems with the men in our own government, and not because they were male chauvinistic pigs but because they had known me for so long. I might have been a carpool mother and a friend of their wife, and so they'd been to my house for dinner and things like and they thought 'how did she get to be secretary of state when I should be secretary of state?' 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