Age Quote by Marguerite Duras
“A woman's work, from the time she gets up to the time she goes to bed, is as hard as a day at war, worse than a man's working day. ... To men, women's work was like the rain-bringing clouds, or the rain itself. The task involved was carried out every day as regularly as sleep. So men were happy - men in the Middle Ages, men at the time of the Revolution, and men in 1986: everything in the garden was lovely.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Lover, Marguerite Duras, 1984
The quote highlights the relentless, invisible labor women perform, equating it to the constant strain of war and emphasizing its undervaluation compared to men's experiences.
In simple terms: Women’s daily work is endless and often ignored.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and value women’s constant contributions.
Themes
gender
labor
invisibility
history
equality
Mood
reflective
critical
empathetic
Type
social
philosophical
historical
When to use this quote
- household management
- childcare
- career balancing
- activism
- policy making
Key Concepts
feminist theory
social critique
domestic labor
Questions to Reflect On
- How does society measure the worth of different types of work?
- What steps can we take to make invisible labor visible?
A Different Perspective
The comparison may oversimplify diverse male experiences and ignore men’s own hardships.
