--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let’s take this figure of the feminist…" description: "\"Let’s take this figure of the feminist killjoy seriously. Does the feminist kill other people’s joy by pointing out moments of sexism? Or does she expo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/820/sara-ahmed-31000_anger_let-s-take-this-figure-of-the-feminist-k_3217984.jpg" --- # Let’s take this figure of the feminist killjoy seriously… ![“Let’s take this figure of the feminist killjoy seriously. Does the feminist kill other people’s joy by pointing out moments of sexism? Or does she expose the bad feelings that get hidden, displaced, or negated under public signs of joy? Does bad feeling enter the room when somebody expresses anger…” quote by Sara Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/820/sara-ahmed-31000_anger_let-s-take-this-figure-of-the-feminist-k_3217984.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/820/sara-ahmed-31000_anger_let-s-take-this-figure-of-the-feminist-k_3217984.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/820/sara-ahmed-31000_anger_let-s-take-this-figure-of-the-feminist-k_3217984.jpg) > “Let’s take this figure of the feminist killjoy seriously. Does the feminist kill other people’s joy by pointing out moments of sexism? Or does she expose the bad feelings that get hidden, displaced, or negated under public signs of joy? Does bad feeling enter the room when somebody expresses anger about things, or could anger be the moment when the bad feelings that circulate through objects get brought to the surface in a certain way?” [Sara Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-ahmed/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Feminist critique can reveal hidden injustices without stealing joy; it exposes systemic bias. **In simple terms:** Critique reveals bias, not joy theft. Key Takeaway Use critique to uncover inequities. Themes feminism justice joy bias critique Mood critical empathetic provocative Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - workplace meetings - public debates - media analysis - educational settings Key Concepts intersectionality social theory emotional labor Questions to Reflect On - How can critique be framed constructively? - What spaces allow honest feminist critique? A Different Perspective Critique may be perceived as negative, causing resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) [Bad feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-feelings/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Does Feminist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/does-feminist-1945300/) [Expressing anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expressing-anger/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Feminist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminist/) [Feminist Kill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminist-kill-6038671/) [Feminist Killjoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminist-killjoy-3093565/) [Figures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/figures/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Killjoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killjoy/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Moments Sexism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments-sexism-6038672/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pointing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pointing/) [Rooms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rooms/) [Sexism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexism/) [Surface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surface/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [“Let's take the figure of the feminist killjoy seriously. One feminist project could be to give the killjoy back her voice. Whilst hearing feminists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-ahmed/let-s-take-the-figure-of-the-feminist-killjoy-seriously-one-feminist/) [Sara Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-ahmed/) > [“When you expose a problem you pose a problem. It might then be assumed that the problem would go away if you would just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-ahmed/when-you-expose-a-problem-you-pose-a-problem-it-might-then-be-assumed/) [Sara Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-ahmed/) > [For better or worse, there is not a situation in one's daily life that does not have feminist subtext, superstructure, implications and one is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margo-jefferson/for-better-or-worse-there-is-not-a-situation-in-one-s-daily-life-that/) [Margo Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margo-jefferson/) > [Does being a feminist mean that I believe that I'm as good as any man? Yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmine-bleeth/does-being-a-feminist-mean-that-i-believe-that-i-m-as-good-as-any-man/) [Yasmine Bleeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmine-bleeth/) > [“The academic and writer Sara Ahmed has written brilliantly about the idea of the feminist killjoy, and why it should be embraced – because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kira-cochrane/the-academic-and-writer-sara-ahmed-has-written-brilliantly-about-the/) [Kira Cochrane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kira-cochrane/) > [Does feminist mean large unpleasant person who'll shout at you or someone who believes women are human beings. To me it's the latter, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/does-feminist-mean-large-unpleasant-person-who-ll-shout-at-you-or/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [I am sure some people will say I am a killjoy for taking away the right of those men who wish to pay for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqui-smith/i-am-sure-some-people-will-say-i-am-a-killjoy-for-taking-away-the/) [Jacqui Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqui-smith/) > [But the saints are never the kind of killjoy spinster aunts who go in for faultfinding and lack all sense of humor. (Nor should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/but-the-saints-are-never-the-kind-of-killjoy-spinster-aunts-who-go-in/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [When the last Puritan has disappeared from the earth, the man of science will take his place as a killjoy, and we shall be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-staughton-lynd/when-the-last-puritan-has-disappeared-from-the-earth-the-man-of/) [Robert Staughton Lynd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-staughton-lynd/) > [Do not listen to the killjoys who tell you never to eat oysters in months that do not contain the letter R: May, June,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/do-not-listen-to-the-killjoys-who-tell-you-never-to-eat-oysters-in/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [America was founded by puritans and like it or not the anti-pleasure dogma of those buckled-shoed killjoys still pervades our collective unconscious like an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-miller/america-was-founded-by-puritans-and-like-it-or-not-the-anti-pleasure/) [Dennis Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-miller/) > [Hot off the presses, today’s headlines: The love of your life does not approve of my wanton flapper ways,” Evie said in a voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/hot-off-the-presses-today-s-headlines-the-love-of-your-life-does-not/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [The saints are never the kind of killjoy spinster aunts who go in for faultfinding and lack all sense of humor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/the-saints-are-never-the-kind-of-killjoy-spinster-aunts-who-go-in-for/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [“The church is often called a killjoy for protesting against sexual license. But the real killing of joy comes with the grabbing of pleasure.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/the-church-is-often-called-a-killjoy-for-protesting-against-sexual/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [Not just self-restraint, that old killjoy, but communal restraint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/not-just-self-restraint-that-old-killjoy-but-communal-restraint/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) ## More by Sara Ahmed > [“Feminist consciousness can be thought of as consciousness of the violence and power concealed under the languages of civility, happiness, and love, rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-ahmed/feminist-consciousness-can-be-thought-of-as-consciousness-of-the/) [Sara Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-ahmed/) > [“If we start close to home, we open ourselves out. I will try to show how, in making sense of things that happen, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-ahmed/if-we-start-close-to-home-we-open-ourselves-out-i-will-try-to-show/) [Sara Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-ahmed/) > [“The personal is theoretical.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-ahmed/the-personal-is-theoretical/) [Sara Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-ahmed/) > [“Where we find happiness teaches us what we value rather than simply what is of value.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-ahmed/where-we-find-happiness-teaches-us-what-we-value-rather-than-simply/) [Sara Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-ahmed/) > [“Let's take the figure of the feminist killjoy seriously. One feminist project could be to give the killjoy back her voice. Whilst hearing feminists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-ahmed/let-s-take-the-figure-of-the-feminist-killjoy-seriously-one-feminist/) [Sara Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-ahmed/) > [“When you expose a problem you pose a problem. It might then be assumed that the problem would go away if you would just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-ahmed/when-you-expose-a-problem-you-pose-a-problem-it-might-then-be-assumed/) [Sara Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-ahmed/) > [“But think of this: those of us who arrive in an academy that was not shaped by or for us bring knowledges, as well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-ahmed/but-think-of-this-those-of-us-who-arrive-in-an-academy-that-was-not/) [Sara Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-ahmed/) > [“To live a feminist life is to make everything into something that is questionable. The question of how to live a feminist life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-ahmed/to-live-a-feminist-life-is-to-make-everything-into-something-that-is/) [Sara Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-ahmed/) > [“I think of feminism as poetry; we hear histories in words; we reassemble histories by putting them into words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-ahmed/i-think-of-feminism-as-poetry-we-hear-histories-in-words-we/) [Sara Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-ahmed/) > [“Queer and feminist worlds are built through the effort to support those who are not supported because of who they are, what they want,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-ahmed/queer-and-feminist-worlds-are-built-through-the-effort-to-support/) [Sara Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-ahmed/) > [“To be a feminist at work is or should be about how we challenge ordinary and everyday sexism, including academic sexism. This is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-ahmed/to-be-a-feminist-at-work-is-or-should-be-about-how-we-challenge/) [Sara Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-ahmed/) > [“By using the idea of sweaty concepts, I am also trying to show how descriptive work is conceptual work. A concept is worldly, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-ahmed/by-using-the-idea-of-sweaty-concepts-i-am-also-trying-to-show-how/) [Sara Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-ahmed/) > [“The impossibility of 'fellow feeling' is itself the confirmation of injury. The call of such pain, as a pain that cannot be shared through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-ahmed/the-impossibility-of-fellow-feeling-is-itself-the-confirmation-of/) [Sara Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-ahmed/) > [Solidarity does not assume that our struggles are the same struggles, or that our pain is the same pain, or that our hope is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-ahmed/solidarity-does-not-assume-that-our-struggles-are-the-same-struggles/) [Sara Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-ahmed/) > [“A significant step for a feminist movement is to recognize what has not ended. And this step is a very hard step. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-ahmed/a-significant-step-for-a-feminist-movement-is-to-recognize-what-has/) [Sara Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-ahmed/) [Explore all 17 Sara Ahmed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-ahmed/) ## More Anger quotes > [“If I let myself think of it the pain and anger were still fresh, adrenalin racing down my limbs to pool, hot and itchy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylie-ladd/if-i-let-myself-think-of-it-the-pain-and-anger-were-still-fresh/) [Kylie Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylie-ladd/) > [I receive something we might euphemistically call an 'inappropriately hostile' response - that is to say, more than fair criticism or even fair anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/i-receive-something-we-might-euphemistically-call-an-inappropriately/) [Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Anger is a rough water; if you can canalize it into a water mill, you can benefit from it. Anything bad can be transformed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/anger-is-a-rough-water-if-you-can-canalize-it-into-a-water-mill-you/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [“When you feel terribly angry, you're possessed by anger ghost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/when-you-feel-terribly-angry-you-re-possessed-by-anger-ghost/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“Medical studies have shown that cursing reduces levels of stress and pain. Repressing your anger is not healthy. It's much better to verbalize it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/medical-studies-have-shown-that-cursing-reduces-levels-of-stress-and/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [My care will be in the heart n not in words My anger will be in Words n not in the Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/my-care-will-be-in-the-heart-n-not-in-words-my-anger-will-be-in-words/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-a-negro-in-this-country-and-to-be-relatively-conscious-is-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“God, you had enough time to have been through it three times. You've been through my stuff. I bet you over and let one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/god-you-had-enough-time-to-have-been-through-it-three-times-you-ve/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect was already in the cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/the-present-contains-nothing-more-than-the-past-and-what-is-found-in/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/depression-is-merely-anger-without-enthusiasm/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I always fight better when my opponent's angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-haye/i-always-fight-better-when-my-opponent-s-angry/) [David Haye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-haye/) > [ “Where there are kashays (anger-pride-deceit-greed), there is worldly life. As long as anger-pride-deceit-greed exist; one is a sansaari \[living a worldly life\] regardless of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-are-kashays-anger-pride-deceit-greed-there-is-worldly/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) [Browse all 7,469 Anger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Let’s take this figure of the feminist killjoy seriously. Does the feminist kill other people’s joy by pointing out moments of sexism? Or does she expose the bad feelings that get hidden, displaced, or negated under public signs of joy? 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