Advertising Quote by Naomi Wolf
““Men are visually aroused by women's bodies and less sensitive to their arousal by women's personalities because they are trained early into that response, while women are less visually aroused and more emotionally aroused because that is their training. This asymmetry in sexual education maintains men's power in the myth: They look at women's bodies, evaluate, move on; their own bodies are not looked at, evaluated, and taken or passed over. But there is no "rock called gender" responsible for that; it can change so that real mutuality--an equal gaze, equal vulnerability, equal desire--brings heterosexual men and women together.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf, 1990
Societal conditioning makes men focus on women's bodies and women on emotions, reinforcing gender power dynamics; changing this gaze can foster mutual equality.
In simple terms: Training shapes gendered attraction and power.
Key Takeaway
Shift focus to mutual vulnerability and desire.
Themes
gender
power
sexuality
perception
equality
Mood
reflective
critical
hopeful
Type
analytical
social commentary
When to use this quote
- dating
- media representation
- education
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
social conditioning
mutual gaze
gender dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we teach equal gaze from early childhood?
- What barriers exist to mutual vulnerability?
A Different Perspective
Changing deep-seated cultural norms is slow and may face resistance.
