--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Paradoxically .. the very feminist…" description: "\"“Paradoxically .. the very feminist movement that gave women more options also helped create pressure on many of us to be strong, successful, and indep..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32c/robin-stern-45970_abuse_paradoxically-the-very-feminist-movement_3031883.jpg" --- # Paradoxically .. the very feminist movement that gave… ![“Paradoxically .. the very feminist movement that gave women more options also helped create pressure on many of us to be strong, successful, and independent—the kind of women who would theoretically be immune to any form of abuse from men. As a result, women who are in gaslighting and other types…” quote by Robin Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32c/robin-stern-45970_abuse_paradoxically-the-very-feminist-movement_3031883.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32c/robin-stern-45970_abuse_paradoxically-the-very-feminist-movement_3031883.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32c/robin-stern-45970_abuse_paradoxically-the-very-feminist-movement_3031883.jpg) > ““Paradoxically .. the very feminist movement that gave women more options also helped create pressure on many of us to be strong, successful, and independent—the kind of women who would theoretically be immune to any form of abuse from men. As a result, women who are in gaslighting and other types of abusive relationships may feel doubly ashamed: first, for being in a bad relationship, and second, for not living up to their self-imposed standards of strength and independence.”” [Robin Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-stern/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Feminist progress creates pressure to be strong and independent, causing women in abusive relationships to feel double shame for both the abuse and not meeting self‑imposed standards. **In simple terms:** Feminist ideals can add pressure on victims. Key Takeaway Support victims without judgment of their strength standards. Themes gender abuse self‑esteem Mood empathetic serious Type psychological social When to use this quote - counseling - support groups - education programs Key Concepts psychology feminist theory Questions to Reflect On - How can we reduce shame in survivors? - What alternative narratives empower without pressure? A Different Perspective Victims may feel isolated by expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) [Abusive Relationships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abusive-relationships-2/) [Bad relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-relationship/) [Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Feminist movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminist-movement/) [Gaslighting Types](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaslighting-types-4957049/) [Paradoxically Feminist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradoxically-feminist-4957050/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Women Gaslighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women-gaslighting-4957048/) ## Related quotes > [“By the time survivors are compelled to leave their psychologically abusive relationships, they do not see any other viable option but to leave. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/by-the-time-survivors-are-compelled-to-leave-their-psychologically/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“Survivors are receiving very poor “counseling” from ministry staff and volunteers who have no professional training in mental health. Church leaders cannot be expected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/survivors-are-receiving-very-poor-counseling-from-ministry-staff-and/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [Abusive relationships are like being addicted a bad drug. You know it's bad for you but you have a really hard time escaping from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/abusive-relationships-are-like-being-addicted-a-bad-drug-you-know-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Billie Holiday Her imperfect life led to her becoming a legendary performer with a continuing influence on American music. 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Psychologists often see the same resistance to escaping in women who are in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-vujicic/despair-of-ever-making-it-out-of-slavery-and-the-slum-psychologists/) [Nick Vujicic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-vujicic/) > [Any relationships that would reject you for being true to yourself are - by definition - abusive relationships. You'll be much better off when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-pavlina/any-relationships-that-would-reject-you-for-being-true-to-yourself/) [Steve Pavlina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-pavlina/) > [One of the things that can be helpful in terms of an explanation is to look at the ways in which cults are similar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-edmondson/one-of-the-things-that-can-be-helpful-in-terms-of-an-explanation-is/) [Sarah Edmondson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-edmondson/) > [“Law firms can create environments for abusive relationships. This is especially true if an attorney has no self-direction, has no independent means of financial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-d-hart/law-firms-can-create-environments-for-abusive-relationships-this-is/) [Robin D. Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-d-hart/) > [I was a young feminist in the '70s. Feminism saved my life. It gave me a life. But I saw how so much of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/i-was-a-young-feminist-in-the-70s-feminism-saved-my-life-it-gave-me-a/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [“Dear Hunger Games : Screw you for helping cowards pretend you have to be great with a bow to fight evil. You don't need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-molyneux/dear-hunger-games-screw-you-for-helping-cowards-pretend-you-have-to/) [Stefan Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-molyneux/) > [“All abusive relationships teach a form of love. JOHN BRADSHAW”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anodea-judith/all-abusive-relationships-teach-a-form-of-love-john-bradshaw/) [Anodea Judith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anodea-judith/) > [“Consider these traditional theories of domestic abuse: - Learned helplessness suggest that abused women learn to become helpless under abusive conditions; they are powerless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-weitzman/consider-these-traditional-theories-of-domestic-abuse-learned/) [Susan Weitzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-weitzman/) > [“When you truly love yourself, you do not accept abusive relationships, because you know you deserve better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/when-you-truly-love-yourself-you-do-not-accept-abusive-relationships/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) > [“Abused women aren't "codependent." It is abusers, not their partners, who create abusive relationships.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lundy-bancroft/abused-women-aren-t-codependent-it-is-abusers-not-their-partners-who/) [Lundy Bancroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lundy-bancroft/) ## More by Robin Stern > [“Dr. Stern’s explanation of how to identify this kind of covert emotional control and abuse, and how to resist it, is a very important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-stern/dr-stern-s-explanation-of-how-to-identify-this-kind-of-covert/) [Robin Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-stern/) > [“1. You are constantly second-guessing yourself. 2. You ask yourself, “Am I too sensitive?” a dozen times a day. 3. You often feel confused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-stern/1-you-are-constantly-second-guessing-yourself-2-you-ask-yourself-am-i/) [Robin Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-stern/) > [“before. 20. You feel hopeless and joyless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-stern/before-20-you-feel-hopeless-and-joyless/) [Robin Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-stern/) > [“I think this point is so important, I'm going to repeat it: You should never listen to criticism that is primarily intended to wound,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-stern/i-think-this-point-is-so-important-i-m-going-to-repeat-it-you-should/) [Robin Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-stern/) > [“or her insensitive boyfriend. Stuck in Stage”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-stern/or-her-insensitive-boyfriend-stuck-in-stage/) [Robin Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-stern/) > [“Don't ask yourself, "Who's Right?" Ask yourself, "Do I like being treated this way?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-stern/don-t-ask-yourself-who-s-right-ask-yourself-do-i-like-being-treated/) [Robin Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-stern/) > [“Instead of realizing how much she didn't like Matt's behavior, Leah took the problem on herself, crafting a reassuring explanation that made her entirely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-stern/instead-of-realizing-how-much-she-didn-t-like-matt-s-behavior-leah/) [Robin Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-stern/) [Explore all 8 Robin Stern quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-stern/) ## More Abuse quotes > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [Being nice is okay,but don't allow anybody to abuse it...try to fight for your self when you know your on the right way...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-nice-is-okay-but-don-t-allow-anybody-to-abuse-it-try-to-fight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Build a bridge over shame by teaching kids about sexual abuse. Give them a chance to run to us should they encounter it. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-byers-ruch/build-a-bridge-over-shame-by-teaching-kids-about-sexual-abuse-give/) [Carolyn Byers Ruch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-byers-ruch/) > [It is sure that those are most desirous of honour or glory who cry out loudest of its abuse and the vanity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/it-is-sure-that-those-are-most-desirous-of-honour-or-glory-who-cry/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [“The sole reason I stand to open it up now is that lots of people who are in pain just like I was, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-dsouza/the-sole-reason-i-stand-to-open-it-up-now-is-that-lots-of-people-who/) [Patricia Dsouza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-dsouza/) > [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [I have a theory that all abuse, no matter what kind of abuse it is, is foremost an assault on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-westover/i-have-a-theory-that-all-abuse-no-matter-what-kind-of-abuse-it-is-is/) [Tara Westover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-westover/) > [“Blaming therapy, social work and other caring professions for the confabulation of testimony of 'satanic ritual abuse' legitimated a programme of political and social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/blaming-therapy-social-work-and-other-caring-professions-for-the/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [Finally, the scariest thing about abuse of any shape or form, is, in my opinion, not the abuse itself, but that if it continues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/finally-the-scariest-thing-about-abuse-of-any-shape-or-form-is-in-my/) [Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/) > [“Research on organised abuse emphasises the diversity of organised abuse cases, and the ways in which serious forms of child maltreatment cluster in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/research-on-organised-abuse-emphasises-the-diversity-of-organised/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [“Stand up for yourself. Never give any one permission to abuse you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/stand-up-for-yourself-never-give-any-one-permission-to-abuse-you/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [All governments should be pressured to correct their abuses of human rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stallman/all-governments-should-be-pressured-to-correct-their-abuses-of-human/) [Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stallman/) > [“Words are free. It does not mean you should abuse them. Be kind with them. They will mirror your actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hadinet-tekie/words-are-free-it-does-not-mean-you-should-abuse-them-be-kind-with/) [Hadinet Tekie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hadinet-tekie/) > [My illness is one often characterized by dramatic overspending - in my case through frenzied shopping sprees, credit card abuse, excessive hoarding of unnecessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/my-illness-is-one-often-characterized-by-dramatic-overspending-in-my/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) [Browse all 3,113 Abuse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Paradoxically .. the very feminist movement that gave women more options also helped create pressure on many of us to be strong, successful, and independent—the kind of women who would theoretically be immune to any form of abuse from men. 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