African american Quote by Patricia Dixon
““Women in general, and African American women in particular, are still separated by a veil, albeit an invisible one. As long as women are divided by dichotomies that stem from gender oppression, e.g., virgin versus whore, respectable versus unrespectable, and, ultimately, wife versus the other woman, all of which puts women in competition for men, they will not be able to effectively challenge the structures that support some while not supporting others, and in some cases, even exploiting them.””
About This Quote
Source Article: Feminist Theory Review, 2018
Dividing women into opposing stereotypes fuels competition and weakens collective power.
In simple terms: Stereotypes pit women against each other.
Key Takeaway
Unite across differences to challenge oppression.
Themes
gender oppression
intersectionality
solidarity
competition
Mood
critical
determined
Type
analytical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- activism
- policy advocacy
- education
- community organizing
Key Concepts
Feminist theory
social stratification
identity politics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we dismantle harmful gender binaries?
- What actions foster true solidarity?
A Different Perspective
Changing deep‑rooted cultural narratives is difficult.
![“Women are suffering because they are being excluded. The high military council excluded women from the committee to change the constitution [of Egypt]. We cannot be liberated as women in a society built on class oppression or gender oppression or religious oppression.” quote by Nawal El Saadawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9a8/nawal-el-saadawi-4167_built_women-are-suffering-because-they-are-bei_408487.jpg)
![“Women can be divided, more or less, into cows and shrews, and the shrews are to be avoided. [p. 74]” quote by Shirley Hazzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/531/shirley-hazzard-9123_quote_women-can-be-divided-more-or-less-into-c_1671784.jpg)
