--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: American women are evolving…" description: "\"“American women are evolving backward--becoming more focused on their looks than ever. Feminism has been defeated by narcissism.”\" — Maureen Dowd" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d12/maureen-dowd-6927_american-women_american-women-are-evolving-backward-bec_1826908.jpg" --- # American women are evolving backward--becoming more… ![“American women are evolving backward--becoming more focused on their looks than ever. Feminism has been defeated by narcissism.” quote by Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d12/maureen-dowd-6927_american-women_american-women-are-evolving-backward-bec_1826908.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d12/maureen-dowd-6927_american-women_american-women-are-evolving-backward-bec_1826908.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d12/maureen-dowd-6927_american-women_american-women-are-evolving-backward-bec_1826908.jpg) > ““American women are evolving backward--becoming more focused on their looks than ever. Feminism has been defeated by narcissism.”” [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author claims that modern American women prioritize appearance over substance, suggesting feminism has lost its edge to self‑obsession. **In simple terms:** Women focus on looks, feminism weakened. Key Takeaway Challenge stereotypes, support deeper values. Themes gender media feminism Mood critical concerned Type opinion social commentary When to use this quote - social media - advertising - personal relationships - political discourse Key Concepts self‑image cultural shift Questions to Reflect On - How does media shape self‑worth? - Can feminism coexist with self‑care? A Different Perspective The statement overlooks progress in gender equality and diverse feminist movements. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-women/) [Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Feminism Defeated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism-defeated-2242005/) [Looks Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks-feminism-2242003/) [Women Evolving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women-evolving-2242004/) ## Related quotes > [IT is an astonishing thing that historians will look back and puzzle over, that in the 21st century, American women were such hunted creatures.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/it-is-an-astonishing-thing-that-historians-will-look-back-and-puzzle/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [The work-family divide is the biggest issue for American women. But in some ways it's amazing how adjusted society has become to it. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/the-work-family-divide-is-the-biggest-issue-for-american-women-but-in/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [Since Bush has been in office, African-American women have fallen behind in terms of income and wages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/since-bush-has-been-in-office-african-american-women-have-fallen/) [Donna Brazile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-brazile/) > [“She was bold, and yet she was reserved. She was sensual and girlish, but she was never coy. So I think that what she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-fees/she-was-bold-and-yet-she-was-reserved-she-was-sensual-and-girlish-but/) [Paul Fees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-fees/) > [An estimated 2 million American women will be diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer this decade and screening could prevent up to 30% of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lesko/an-estimated-2-million-american-women-will-be-diagnosed-with-breast/) [Matthew Lesko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lesko/) > [If our American women are going to work to put food on the table and pay for the mortgage, then we better make sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reshma-saujani/if-our-american-women-are-going-to-work-to-put-food-on-the-table-and/) [Reshma Saujani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reshma-saujani/) > [I am an African-American woman of dark skin tone, and there are very specific roles that are usually given to African-American women of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lachanze/i-am-an-african-american-woman-of-dark-skin-tone-and-there-are-very/) [LaChanze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lachanze/) > [Newsweek recently asked American women which women they admire the most, and the answer varied, actually, depending on which political party you were from...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-martin/newsweek-recently-asked-american-women-which-women-they-admire-the/) [Michel Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-martin/) > [The hearts of Afro-American women are too warm and too large for race hatred. Long suffering has so chastened them that they are developing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-barrier-williams/the-hearts-of-afro-american-women-are-too-warm-and-too-large-for-race/) [Fannie Barrier Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-barrier-williams/) > [I want you to say dreadfully mad, funny things and make up songs and be--' The Will I fell in love with, she almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-want-you-to-say-dreadfully-mad-funny-things-and-make-up-songs-and/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [The great thing about American women is their energy and the way they love to dress. French women don't really dress; they are too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-gaultier/the-great-thing-about-american-women-is-their-energy-and-the-way-they/) [Jean Paul Gaultier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-gaultier/) > [“Americans consume more cow’s milk and its products per person than most populations in the world. So Americans should have wonderfully strong bones, right?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-colin-campbell/americans-consume-more-cow-s-milk-and-its-products-per-person-than/) [T. Colin Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-colin-campbell/) > [Ben Marcus has created an innovative and unflinching portrait of the turmoil of the human condition, providing the reader a most rare gift: something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myla-goldberg/ben-marcus-has-created-an-innovative-and-unflinching-portrait-of-the/) [Myla Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myla-goldberg/) > [African American women in particular have incredible buying power. Statistically, we go to the movies more than anyone. We have made Tyler Perrys career.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-nottage/african-american-women-in-particular-have-incredible-buying-power/) [Lynn Nottage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-nottage/) > [It's important for women to understand that it's bad enough that we don't make dollar-for-dollar what men do, but when you distill that down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-turner/it-s-important-for-women-to-understand-that-it-s-bad-enough-that-we/) [Nina Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-turner/) ## More by Maureen Dowd > [If there's one thing white men have never had a problem with in this clubby, white marble enclave of Washington, it's getting pulled up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/if-there-s-one-thing-white-men-have-never-had-a-problem-with-in-this/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [When you're young, and even at times when you're older, it's hard to fathom this: What needs to be nurtured is the stuff that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/when-you-re-young-and-even-at-times-when-you-re-older-it-s-hard-to/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [“Who knows? If women all end up with the same face and body, men may gravitate toward the quirky. Then the chicks with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/who-knows-if-women-all-end-up-with-the-same-face-and-body-men-may/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [Why can't Google, which likes to see itself as a 'Don't Be Evil' benevolent force in society, just write us a big check for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/why-can-t-google-which-likes-to-see-itself-as-a-don-t-be-evil/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [“Materialism has defeated feminism as well. In a sign of the times, Gloria Steinem was on the picket line when the first American DeBeers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/materialism-has-defeated-feminism-as-well-in-a-sign-of-the-times/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [“Romantic googling can be as dangerous as drunk text messaging. Of course hell hath no fury like a woman who Google-bombs her old flames…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/romantic-googling-can-be-as-dangerous-as-drunk-text-messaging-of/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [Paul Ryan, who teamed up with Akin in the House to sponsor harsh anti-abortion bills, may look young and hip and new generation, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/paul-ryan-who-teamed-up-with-akin-in-the-house-to-sponsor-harsh-anti/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [Obama invented himself against all odds and repeated parental abandonment, and he worked hard to regiment his emotions. But now that can come across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/obama-invented-himself-against-all-odds-and-repeated-parental/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [Feminism died in 1998 when Hillary allowed henchlings and Democrats to demonize Monica as an unbalanced stalker, and when Gloria Steinem defended Mr. Clinton…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/feminism-died-in-1998-when-hillary-allowed-henchlings-and-democrats/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [President Obama thinks he can use emotion to bring pressure on Congress. But that's not how adults with power respond to things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/president-obama-thinks-he-can-use-emotion-to-bring-pressure-on/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [ Now that Hillary \[Clinton\] has won Pennsylvania, it will take a village to help Obama escape from the suffocating embrace of his rival. Certainly… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/now-that-hillary-clinton-has-won-pennsylvania-it-will-take-a-village/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [I don't understand men. I don't even understand what I don't understand about men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/i-don-t-understand-men-i-don-t-even-understand-what-i-don-t/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [Good and evil are not like the Redskins and the Cowboys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/good-and-evil-are-not-like-the-redskins-and-the-cowboys/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [And as far as doing God's work, I think the bankers who took government money and then gave out obscene bonuses are the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/and-as-far-as-doing-god-s-work-i-think-the-bankers-who-took/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) > [It is men's worst fear, personally and professionally, that women will pin the sin on them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-dowd/it-is-men-s-worst-fear-personally-and-professionally-that-women-will/) [Maureen Dowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) [Explore all 96 Maureen Dowd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-dowd/) ## More American women quotes > [The work-family divide is the biggest issue for American women. But in some ways it's amazing how adjusted society has become to it. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/the-work-family-divide-is-the-biggest-issue-for-american-women-but-in/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [The great thing about American women is their energy and the way they love to dress. French women don't really dress; they are too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-gaultier/the-great-thing-about-american-women-is-their-energy-and-the-way-they/) [Jean Paul Gaultier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-gaultier/) > [Since Bush has been in office, African-American women have fallen behind in terms of income and wages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/since-bush-has-been-in-office-african-american-women-have-fallen/) [Donna Brazile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-brazile/) > [“She was bold, and yet she was reserved. She was sensual and girlish, but she was never coy. So I think that what she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-fees/she-was-bold-and-yet-she-was-reserved-she-was-sensual-and-girlish-but/) [Paul Fees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-fees/) > [African American women in particular have incredible buying power. Statistically, we go to the movies more than anyone. We have made Tyler Perrys career.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-nottage/african-american-women-in-particular-have-incredible-buying-power/) [Lynn Nottage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-nottage/) > [Ben Marcus has created an innovative and unflinching portrait of the turmoil of the human condition, providing the reader a most rare gift: something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myla-goldberg/ben-marcus-has-created-an-innovative-and-unflinching-portrait-of-the/) [Myla Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myla-goldberg/) > [“Americans consume more cow’s milk and its products per person than most populations in the world. So Americans should have wonderfully strong bones, right?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-colin-campbell/americans-consume-more-cow-s-milk-and-its-products-per-person-than/) [T. Colin Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-colin-campbell/) > [It's important for women to understand that it's bad enough that we don't make dollar-for-dollar what men do, but when you distill that down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-turner/it-s-important-for-women-to-understand-that-it-s-bad-enough-that-we/) [Nina Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-turner/) > [I want you to say dreadfully mad, funny things and make up songs and be--' The Will I fell in love with, she almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-want-you-to-say-dreadfully-mad-funny-things-and-make-up-songs-and/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [The hearts of Afro-American women are too warm and too large for race hatred. Long suffering has so chastened them that they are developing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-barrier-williams/the-hearts-of-afro-american-women-are-too-warm-and-too-large-for-race/) [Fannie Barrier Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-barrier-williams/) > [Newsweek recently asked American women which women they admire the most, and the answer varied, actually, depending on which political party you were from...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-martin/newsweek-recently-asked-american-women-which-women-they-admire-the/) [Michel Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-martin/) > [I am an African-American woman of dark skin tone, and there are very specific roles that are usually given to African-American women of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lachanze/i-am-an-african-american-woman-of-dark-skin-tone-and-there-are-very/) [LaChanze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lachanze/) > [If our American women are going to work to put food on the table and pay for the mortgage, then we better make sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reshma-saujani/if-our-american-women-are-going-to-work-to-put-food-on-the-table-and/) [Reshma Saujani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reshma-saujani/) > [An estimated 2 million American women will be diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer this decade and screening could prevent up to 30% of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lesko/an-estimated-2-million-american-women-will-be-diagnosed-with-breast/) [Matthew Lesko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lesko/) > [I have never been more proud of the United States than I am this year. We have elected an African-American president. We have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-stockett/i-have-never-been-more-proud-of-the-united-states-than-i-am-this-year/) [Kathryn Stockett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-stockett/) [Browse all 221 American women quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-women/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“American women are evolving backward--becoming more focused on their looks than ever. 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