Adults Quote by Margaret Mead
“The suffering of either sex - of the male who is unable, because of the way in which he was reared, to take the strong initiating or patriarchal role that is still demanded of him, or of the female who has been given too much freedom of movement as a child to stay placidly within the house as an adult - this suffering, this discrepancy, this sense of failure in an enjoined role, is the point of leverage for social change.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Coming of Age in Samoa, Margaret Mead, 1928
The quote argues that gender role expectations cause personal suffering, and that this tension can be used to drive societal transformation.
In simple terms: Gender expectations cause pain; that pain can spark change.
Key Takeaway
Use role tension as a catalyst for reform.
Themes
gender
societal change
psychology
roles
empowerment
Mood
reflective
critical
hopeful
Type
analytical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- education reform
- workplace policies
- family counseling
- activism
- media representation
Key Concepts
social constructionism
role conflict
agency
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we reshape roles without causing new harms?
- What policies best channel this tension into positive change?
A Different Perspective
Not all individuals experience these exact pressures; cultural context varies.
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