--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we’d finished, I asked the division…" description: "\"“When we’d finished, I asked the division planner if he had left out anyone in the division. “No, Manal,” he told me. “I’m quite sure we haven’t missed..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b37/manal-al-sharif-12323_patriarchal-society_when-we-d-finished-i-asked-the-division_3231206.jpg" --- # When we’d finished, I asked the division planner if he had… ![“When we’d finished, I asked the division planner if he had left out anyone in the division. “No, Manal,” he told me. “I’m quite sure we haven’t missed anyone.” “So there are no girls here apart from me?” “No, there aren’t.” quote by Manal al-Sharif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b37/manal-al-sharif-12323_patriarchal-society_when-we-d-finished-i-asked-the-division_3231206.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b37/manal-al-sharif-12323_patriarchal-society_when-we-d-finished-i-asked-the-division_3231206.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b37/manal-al-sharif-12323_patriarchal-society_when-we-d-finished-i-asked-the-division_3231206.jpg) > ““When we’d finished, I asked the division planner if he had left out anyone in the division. “No, Manal,” he told me. “I’m quite sure we haven’t missed anyone.” “So there are no girls here apart from me?” “No, there aren’t.”” [Manal al-Sharif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manal-al-sharif/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A planner mistakenly omitted women, revealing systemic gender blind spots in planning. **In simple terms:** Women were unintentionally excluded. Key Takeaway Audit processes for gender bias. Themes gender equality inclusion systemic bias Mood thoughtful critical Type analytical advocacy When to use this quote - corporate hiring - urban planning - education curricula - team composition Key Concepts intersectionality organizational oversight policy design Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure inclusive checks? - What hidden biases exist in our systems? A Different Perspective Exclusion can be unconscious, not intentional. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asked Division](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asked-division-6113441/) [Division Planner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/division-planner-6113443/) [Finished Asked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finished-asked-4180333/) [Manal Told](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manal-told-6113444/) [Patriarchal society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriarchal-society/) [Planner Left](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planner-left-6113442/) [Professional-women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/professional-women-149902/) [Saudi arabia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saudi-arabia/) [Saudi-women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saudi-women/) [Women-s-empowerment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women-s-empowerment/) [Working women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-women/) ## Related quotes > [“I was lonely, desperate, and angry. At that moment, I truly understood what it meant to be a Saudi woman. It meant being confronted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manal-al-sharif/i-was-lonely-desperate-and-angry-at-that-moment-i-truly-understood/) [Manal al-Sharif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manal-al-sharif/) > [How can you tell when a piece is finished?'I asked. 'You can't,' he said flatly. 'All you can tell is when you can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-hoffman/how-can-you-tell-when-a-piece-is-finished-i-asked-you-can-t-he-said/) [Mary Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-hoffman/) > [“A strong woman builds her own world. She is one who is wise enough to know that it will attract the man she will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-j-barrier/a-strong-woman-builds-her-own-world-she-is-one-who-is-wise-enough-to/) [Ellen J. Barrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-j-barrier/) ## More by Manal al-Sharif > [“Freedom is to live with dignity”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manal-al-sharif/freedom-is-to-live-with-dignity/) [Manal al-Sharif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manal-al-sharif/) > [“I had to smuggle an early Nokia camera cell phone into the country from Bahrain in 2004. There was a large black market for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manal-al-sharif/i-had-to-smuggle-an-early-nokia-camera-cell-phone-into-the-country/) [Manal al-Sharif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manal-al-sharif/) > [I love my sons, I love my husband, and I love my country. But in kingdoms of men, there are few - if any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manal-al-sharif/i-love-my-sons-i-love-my-husband-and-i-love-my-country-but-in/) [Manal al-Sharif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manal-al-sharif/) > [When I see something wrong, I speak up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manal-al-sharif/when-i-see-something-wrong-i-speak-up/) [Manal al-Sharif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manal-al-sharif/) > [Who do you think is more difficult to face: oppressive governments, or oppressive societies?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manal-al-sharif/who-do-you-think-is-more-difficult-to-face-oppressive-governments-or/) [Manal al-Sharif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manal-al-sharif/) > [I realised it is impossible to live with the rules they give Saudi women. Just impossible. You trying to do everything by the book,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manal-al-sharif/i-realised-it-is-impossible-to-live-with-the-rules-they-give-saudi/) [Manal al-Sharif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manal-al-sharif/) > [“Because my mother couldn't change my present, I decided to change my daughter's future”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manal-al-sharif/because-my-mother-couldn-t-change-my-present-i-decided-to-change-my/) [Manal al-Sharif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manal-al-sharif/) > [For us, driving is not what we are looking for, but being in the driver's seat of our only destiny. That means ending guardianship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manal-al-sharif/for-us-driving-is-not-what-we-are-looking-for-but-being-in-the-driver/) [Manal al-Sharif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manal-al-sharif/) > [The Saudi ideal of a woman is a religious mother who rarely ventures out: She shouldn't work with men, she should be completely covered,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manal-al-sharif/the-saudi-ideal-of-a-woman-is-a-religious-mother-who-rarely-ventures/) [Manal al-Sharif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manal-al-sharif/) > [Women's rights are nothing but a part of the bigger picture, which is human rights. Women are trusted with the lives of their kids,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manal-al-sharif/women-s-rights-are-nothing-but-a-part-of-the-bigger-picture-which-is/) [Manal al-Sharif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manal-al-sharif/) > [“We were like captive animals that had lost the will to fight. We even went so far as to defend the very constraints that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manal-al-sharif/we-were-like-captive-animals-that-had-lost-the-will-to-fight-we-even/) [Manal al-Sharif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manal-al-sharif/) > [The rain begins with a single drop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manal-al-sharif/the-rain-begins-with-a-single-drop/) [Manal al-Sharif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manal-al-sharif/) > [I'm just a human being who would not accept being wronged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manal-al-sharif/i-m-just-a-human-being-who-would-not-accept-being-wronged/) [Manal al-Sharif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manal-al-sharif/) > [My father's generation of Saudi men are more liberal than the men of my generation. But with women, it's the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manal-al-sharif/my-father-s-generation-of-saudi-men-are-more-liberal-than-the-men-of/) [Manal al-Sharif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manal-al-sharif/) > [That is life for a Saudi woman: wherever we go, whatever we achieve, we are the property of a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manal-al-sharif/that-is-life-for-a-saudi-woman-wherever-we-go-whatever-we-achieve-we/) [Manal al-Sharif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manal-al-sharif/) [Explore all 54 Manal al-Sharif quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manal-al-sharif/) ## More Patriarchal society quotes > [“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/) > [“The representation of women in the society, especially through mass media has been the most delusional act ever done on the grounds of human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-representation-of-women-in-the-society-especially-through-mass/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [Want to talk third wave feminism, you could cite Ariel Levy and the idea that women have internalized male oppression. Going to spring break…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/want-to-talk-third-wave-feminism-you-could-cite-ariel-levy-and-the/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [When women gain access to higher education and then suddenly start doing better at it than the men, that can really throw the prevailing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanna-rosin/when-women-gain-access-to-higher-education-and-then-suddenly-start/) [Hanna Rosin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanna-rosin/) > [In a patriarchal society like ours, women have to fight hard for a seat at the table. Boys are privileged over girls from birth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shabana-azmi/in-a-patriarchal-society-like-ours-women-have-to-fight-hard-for-a/) [Shabana Azmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shabana-azmi/) > [Being part of a patriarchal society, it kind of helped me figure out what I was all about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-ratajkowski/being-part-of-a-patriarchal-society-it-kind-of-helped-me-figure-out/) [Emily Ratajkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-ratajkowski/) > [The system of patriarchy is a historic construct; it has a beginning; it will have an end. Its time seems to have nearly run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerda-lerner/the-system-of-patriarchy-is-a-historic-construct-it-has-a-beginning/) [Gerda Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerda-lerner/) > [I don't know if I have any particular views about women in positions of power, though I do think it's more difficult for women,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin-2/i-don-t-know-if-i-have-any-particular-views-about-women-in-positions/) [George R. R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin-2/) > [“I am no feminist. Even though the term "feminism" is founded upon the basic principle of gender equality, it possesses its own fundamental gender…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/i-am-no-feminist-even-though-the-term-feminism-is-founded-upon-the/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“In a patriarchal society like ours, says Horley, domestic violence will always be with us. “Women don’t even have equal pay. Girls are still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-guardian/in-a-patriarchal-society-like-ours-says-horley-domestic-violence-will/) [The Guardian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-guardian/) > [Even now, for women to be contemplating the act of ending their life is considered horrific because they are the giver of life. They're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-wilson/even-now-for-women-to-be-contemplating-the-act-of-ending-their-life/) [Ruth Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-wilson/) > [“I am a scientist who studies the human mind, including the sexual differences in mental faculties, and I am telling you, ten female thinkers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/i-am-a-scientist-who-studies-the-human-mind-including-the-sexual/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [All patriarchal societies are either preparing for war, at war, or recovering from war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/all-patriarchal-societies-are-either-preparing-for-war-at-war-or/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [“Men did care enough to struggle with our demands. And some cared enough to convert to feminist thinking and to change. But only a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/men-did-care-enough-to-struggle-with-our-demands-and-some-cared/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“Growing in tandem is virtually impossible in a patriarchal society, as ours has been. Only one-half of the couple has the use of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/growing-in-tandem-is-virtually-impossible-in-a-patriarchal-society-as/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) [Browse all 67 Patriarchal society quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriarchal-society/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When we’d finished, I asked the division planner if he had left out anyone in the division. “No, Manal,” he told me. “I’m quite sure we haven’t missed anyone.” “So there are no girls here apart from me?” “No, there aren’t.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Manal al-Sharif" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manal-al-sharif/when-we-d-finished-i-asked-the-division-planner-if-he-had-left-out/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Patriarchal society" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manal-al-sharif/when-we-d-finished-i-asked-the-division-planner-if-he-had-left-out/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b37/manal-al-sharif-12323_patriarchal-society_when-we-d-finished-i-asked-the-division_3231206.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b37/manal-al-sharif-12323_patriarchal-society_when-we-d-finished-i-asked-the-division_3231206.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b37/manal-al-sharif-12323_patriarchal-society_when-we-d-finished-i-asked-the-division_3231206.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When we’d finished, I asked the division planner if he had left out anyone in the division. “No, Manal,” he…” — Manal al-Sharif", "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": "Manal al-Sharif", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manal-al-sharif/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“When we’d finished, I asked the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manal-al-sharif/when-we-d-finished-i-asked-the-division-planner-if-he-had-left-out/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manal-al-sharif/when-we-d-finished-i-asked-the-division-planner-if-he-had-left-out/#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 } } ] } ```