---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am not an expert on that whole issue of…"
description: "\"I am not an expert on that whole issue of gender.\" — Ruth Westheimer"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/ruth-westheimer-3544_expert_i-am-not-an-expert-on-that-whole-issue-o_1322486.png"
---

#  I am not an expert on that whole issue of gender.

![“I am not an expert on that whole issue of gender.” quote by Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/ruth-westheimer-3544_expert_i-am-not-an-expert-on-that-whole-issue-o_1322486.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/ruth-westheimer-3544_expert_i-am-not-an-expert-on-that-whole-issue-o_1322486.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/ruth-westheimer-3544_expert_i-am-not-an-expert-on-that-whole-issue-o_1322486.png)

> “I am not an expert on that whole issue of gender.”

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

She acknowledges limited knowledge about the complexities of gender, emphasizing humility and openness to learning.

**In simple terms:** She admits she isn’t an expert on gender.

Key Takeaway

Recognize the limits of your expertise.

Themes

humility learning gender issues

Mood

thoughtful cautious

Type

advice reflective

When to use this quote

- personal conversations
- policy discussions
- educational workshops
- media interviews

Key Concepts

social science identity intersectionality

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you responsibly discuss topics you’re not expert in?
- What steps can you take to become more informed?

A Different Perspective

Expertise may be required for nuanced debates.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Expert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expert/) [Expert Issue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expert-issue-4411602/) [Gender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gender/) [I am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-am/) [Issue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issue/) [Issue Gender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issue-gender-842797/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/)

## Related quotes

> [I never had an issue with gender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-sheindlin/i-never-had-an-issue-with-gender/)

[Judy Sheindlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-sheindlin/)

> [There's no problem with a woman being president of the United States if you take her gender as a sole issue. Gender shouldn't matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-hoover/there-s-no-problem-with-a-woman-being-president-of-the-united-states/)

[Margaret Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-hoover/)

> [I understand why some women/girls/ladies don't want to be women-identified 'cuz it totally complicates your band identity and no one seems to pay much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobi-vail/i-understand-why-some-women-girls-ladies-don-t-want-to-be-women/)

[Tobi Vail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobi-vail/)

> [Individual heterosexual women came to the movement from relationships where men were cruel, unkind, violent, unfaithful. Many of these men were radical thinkers who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/individual-heterosexual-women-came-to-the-movement-from-relationships/)

[Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/)

> [What the government and we in society need to do is to address the issue of gender justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kapil-sibal/what-the-government-and-we-in-society-need-to-do-is-to-address-the/)

[Kapil Sibal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kapil-sibal/)

> [Setting aside the issue of gender while highlighting the symmetry of bodies seemed indispensable in order to focus on the narrative of human beings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alante-kavaite/setting-aside-the-issue-of-gender-while-highlighting-the-symmetry-of/)

[Alante Kavaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alante-kavaite/)

> [It seems to me to be kind of inescapable that one has to be interested in the issue of gender and gender equality. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/it-seems-to-me-to-be-kind-of-inescapable-that-one-has-to-be/)

[Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/)

> [The issue of gender was never my biggest concern; my biggest concern was doing good work. When the feminist movement really got going, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/the-issue-of-gender-was-never-my-biggest-concern-my-biggest-concern/)

[Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/)

> [Education is key. We have to keep girls in school and give them the same opportunities that boys have. They need access to vocational…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-anderson/education-is-key-we-have-to-keep-girls-in-school-and-give-them-the/)

[Gillian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-anderson/)

> [If there is a woman filmmaker or a woman artist, the issue of gender is floating very close to their work... It almost naturally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-roy/if-there-is-a-woman-filmmaker-or-a-woman-artist-the-issue-of-gender/)

[Rahul Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-roy/)

> [The whole issue of how women's management styles are viewed is an incredibly interesting subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/the-whole-issue-of-how-women-s-management-styles-are-viewed-is-an/)

[Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/)

> [To take one example, I mean, the whole issue of bathrooms and gender - in this particular election, when the stakes were so high,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-inskeep/to-take-one-example-i-mean-the-whole-issue-of-bathrooms-and-gender-in/)

[Steve Inskeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-inskeep/)

> [As a female, you're always terrified that if you blow it, you've blown it for your whole gender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kari-skogland/as-a-female-you-re-always-terrified-that-if-you-blow-it-you-ve-blown/)

[Kari Skogland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kari-skogland/)

> [I've always been a fan of old-time hymns and Scots-Irish dirges, though I wouldn't necessarily consider myself an expert on the type of music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bingham/i-ve-always-been-a-fan-of-old-time-hymns-and-scots-irish-dirges/)

[Ryan Bingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bingham/)

> [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/)

[Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/)

## More by Ruth Westheimer

> [I am fortunate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/i-am-fortunate/)

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

> [Boredom is the biggest problem. The same position. Same day of the week. It becomes boring when you don't bring any added flowers home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/boredom-is-the-biggest-problem-the-same-position-same-day-of-the-week/)

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

> [For some people, 'ten feet tall' is just a metaphor. For me, it's more than twice my height!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/for-some-people-ten-feet-tall-is-just-a-metaphor-for-me-it-s-more/)

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

> [Never to forget the Holocaust was not only against Jews. It was mostly against Jews but it was also against homosexuals, gypsies and, let's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/never-to-forget-the-holocaust-was-not-only-against-jews-it-was-mostly/)

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

> [I read the horoscope, and when I like it I smile and when I don't like it, I say, 'Dr. Ruth Westheimer, what's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/i-read-the-horoscope-and-when-i-like-it-i-smile-and-when-i-don-t-like/)

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

> [It is a catastrophe, all of this virtual being together. I think there are people who get hooked on the internet. If they need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/it-is-a-catastrophe-all-of-this-virtual-being-together-i-think-there/)

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

> [I'm not a type of grandmother sitting in a rocking chair. I'm a lot in the theater. I'm a lot at concerts. I'm a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/i-m-not-a-type-of-grandmother-sitting-in-a-rocking-chair-i-m-a-lot-in/)

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

> [I don't want people to be lonely. I would like them to find partners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/i-don-t-want-people-to-be-lonely-i-would-like-them-to-find-partners/)

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

> [When the first armies were formed, combat took courage, which women share equally with men, and strength, which we do not. But though I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/when-the-first-armies-were-formed-combat-took-courage-which-women/)

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

> [If Congress wants to get involved in the business of morality by allowing a moment of silence in our schools, I support that. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/if-congress-wants-to-get-involved-in-the-business-of-morality-by/)

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

> [I think I was fortunate that even in the children's home I had a boyfriend. How important it was, as an orphan at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/i-think-i-was-fortunate-that-even-in-the-children-s-home-i-had-a/)

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

> [I lived, while 1 1/2 million Jewish children died. So I have an obligation to repair the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/i-lived-while-1-1-2-million-jewish-children-died-so-i-have-an/)

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

> [For some strange reason I can put five bullets into that red thing in the middle of the target.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/for-some-strange-reason-i-can-put-five-bullets-into-that-red-thing-in/)

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

> [I certainly believe in equal rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/i-certainly-believe-in-equal-rights/)

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

> [If someone has gone through a lot of emotional pain, including the loss of loved ones, that person may try to build a shell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/if-someone-has-gone-through-a-lot-of-emotional-pain-including-the/)

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

[Explore all 128 Ruth Westheimer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

## More Expert quotes

> [As actors, you become an expert at starting over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/as-actors-you-become-an-expert-at-starting-over/)

[Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/)

> [I've always been a fan of old-time hymns and Scots-Irish dirges, though I wouldn't necessarily consider myself an expert on the type of music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bingham/i-ve-always-been-a-fan-of-old-time-hymns-and-scots-irish-dirges/)

[Ryan Bingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bingham/)

> [Whenever there's a speciality dance, such as the Charleston or the Argentine Tango, 'Strictly' enlists expert choreographers to work with the professional dancers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-rippon/whenever-there-s-a-speciality-dance-such-as-the-charleston-or-the/)

[Angela Rippon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-rippon/)

> [An expert is a man who has made all the mistakes which can be made, in a narrow field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-bohr/an-expert-is-a-man-who-has-made-all-the-mistakes-which-can-be-made-in/)

[Niels Bohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-bohr/)

> [An expert is someone who knows some of the worst mistakes, which can be made, in a very narrow field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-bohr/an-expert-is-someone-who-knows-some-of-the-worst-mistakes-which-can/)

[Niels Bohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-bohr/)

> [“Talent alone does not make someone an expert.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-santrock/talent-alone-does-not-make-someone-an-expert/)

[John W. Santrock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-santrock/)

> [Look, science is hard, it has a reputation of being hard, and the facts are, it is hard, and that's the result of 400…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/look-science-is-hard-it-has-a-reputation-of-being-hard-and-the-facts/)

[Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/)

> [I can play 'Guitar Hero,' most of the songs on Medium and some of the songs on Hard. No Expert.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-hansen/i-can-play-guitar-hero-most-of-the-songs-on-medium-and-some-of-the/)

[Ryan Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-hansen/)

> [A man who is invested takes the time to get to know you well, and his gifts will be a testament to his expert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-hussey/a-man-who-is-invested-takes-the-time-to-get-to-know-you-well-and-his/)

[Matthew Hussey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-hussey/)

> [An expert is somebody who is more than 50 miles from home, has no responsibility for implementing the advice he gives, and shows slides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-meese/an-expert-is-somebody-who-is-more-than-50-miles-from-home-has-no/)

[Edwin Meese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-meese/)

> [“Fit yourself where you are before you fix yourself where you can be!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/fit-yourself-where-you-are-before-you-fix-yourself-where-you-can-be/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [Experts don't know exactly where the boundaries of their expertise are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/experts-don-t-know-exactly-where-the-boundaries-of-their-expertise-are/)

[Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/)

> [Experts are human, and humans respond to incentives. How any given expert treats you, therefore, will depend on how that expert's incentives are set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levitt/experts-are-human-and-humans-respond-to-incentives-how-any-given/)

[Steven Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levitt/)

> [When you're an expert in a subject, you can retain new factoids on your favorite topic easily. This only works for the subjects you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-thompson/when-you-re-an-expert-in-a-subject-you-can-retain-new-factoids-on/)

[Clive Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-thompson/)

> [“I’m a scientific expert; that means I know nothing about absolutely everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/i-m-a-scientific-expert-that-means-i-know-nothing-about-absolutely/)

[Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/)

[Browse all 431 Expert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expert/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I am not an expert on that whole issue of gender.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ruth Westheimer"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/i-am-not-an-expert-on-that-whole-issue-of-gender/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Expert"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/i-am-not-an-expert-on-that-whole-issue-of-gender/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/ruth-westheimer-3544_expert_i-am-not-an-expert-on-that-whole-issue-o_1322486.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/ruth-westheimer-3544_expert_i-am-not-an-expert-on-that-whole-issue-o_1322486.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/ruth-westheimer-3544_expert_i-am-not-an-expert-on-that-whole-issue-o_1322486.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I am not an expert on that whole issue of gender.” — Ruth Westheimer",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Ruth Westheimer",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I am not an expert on...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/i-am-not-an-expert-on-that-whole-issue-of-gender/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/i-am-not-an-expert-on-that-whole-issue-of-gender/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
