--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I feel like we want women to be simpler…" description: "\"I feel like we want women to be simpler, less complex, so we project a lot of versions of simplicity onto them to fit that.\" — Sarah Polley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/sarah-polley-14950_feminism_i-feel-like-we-want-women-to-be-simpler_3039969.jpg" --- # I feel like we want women to be simpler, less complex, so… ![“I feel like we want women to be simpler, less complex, so we project a lot of versions of simplicity onto them to fit that.” quote by Sarah Polley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/sarah-polley-14950_feminism_i-feel-like-we-want-women-to-be-simpler_3039969.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/sarah-polley-14950_feminism_i-feel-like-we-want-women-to-be-simpler_3039969.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/sarah-polley-14950_feminism_i-feel-like-we-want-women-to-be-simpler_3039969.jpg) > “I feel like we want women to be simpler, less complex, so we project a lot of versions of simplicity onto them to fit that.” [Sarah Polley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-polley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Society simplifies women, imposing narrow stereotypes that erase their complexity. **In simple terms:** Women are reduced to simple images. Key Takeaway Challenge stereotypes, celebrate multifaceted identities. Themes gender stereotypes complexity Mood determined reflective Type cinematic social commentary When to use this quote - advertising - media representation - education curricula Key Concepts feminist theory media studies Questions to Reflect On - How do you confront simplifying narratives? - What stories showcase women’s complexity? A Different Perspective Changing deep‑seated stereotypes takes time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Fit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fit/) [Simpler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simpler/) [Simpler Complex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simpler-complex-1060263/) [Simplicity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simplicity/) [Simplicity Fit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simplicity-fit-5006175/) [Women Simpler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women-simpler-5006174/) ## Related quotes > [I don't think I've ever seen a piece of commercial software where the next version is simpler rather than more complex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bender/i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever-seen-a-piece-of-commercial-software-where-the/) [Walter Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bender/) > [Everything must be made as simple as possible. But not simpler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/everything-must-be-made-as-simple-as-possible-but-not-simpler/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Our clothing, our food, our household furnishings - all could be much simpler than they now are and at the same time be better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/our-clothing-our-food-our-household-furnishings-all-could-be-much/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [Think simple,but not simpler than that](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/think-simple-but-not-simpler-than-that/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [O, how much simpler things would be If eyes could paint or brush could see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/o-how-much-simpler-things-would-be-if-eyes-could-paint-or-brush-could/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [Whenever two hypotheses cover the facts, use the simpler of the two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-of-ockham/whenever-two-hypotheses-cover-the-facts-use-the-simpler-of-the-two/) [William of Ockham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-of-ockham/) > [The main purpose of science is simplicity and as we understand more things, everything is becoming simpler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-teller/the-main-purpose-of-science-is-simplicity-and-as-we-understand-more/) [Edward Teller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-teller/) > [“Things should be as simple as possible and no simpler.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/things-should-be-as-simple-as-possible-and-no-simpler/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The truth always turns out to be simpler than you thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/the-truth-always-turns-out-to-be-simpler-than-you-thought/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [Simplicity is never a matter of circumstances; simplicity is a matter of focus. So in the midst of educating and parenting our children, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/simplicity-is-never-a-matter-of-circumstances-simplicity-is-a-matter/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [The simpler it is, the more beautiful it will become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-backhaus/the-simpler-it-is-the-more-beautiful-it-will-become/) [Wilhelm Backhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-backhaus/) > [Keep things simple, but not any simpler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/einstine/keep-things-simple-but-not-any-simpler/) [Einstine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/einstine/) > [“Nothingness, after all, is simpler than any one particular existing thing ever could be; there is only one nothing, and many kinds of something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-carroll/nothingness-after-all-is-simpler-than-any-one-particular-existing/) [Sean Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-carroll/) > [“Once you start doing it, lying is simpler than breathing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/once-you-start-doing-it-lying-is-simpler-than-breathing/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Life is more complicated than we think, yet far simpler than anyone dares to imagine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-durrell/life-is-more-complicated-than-we-think-yet-far-simpler-than-anyone/) [Lawrence Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-durrell/) ## More by Sarah Polley > [I feel like I've always had two selves - the part of me that makes films and the part of me that's political, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-polley/i-feel-like-i-ve-always-had-two-selves-the-part-of-me-that-makes/) [Sarah Polley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-polley/) > [I think that we need to get along together if we want to survive in the twenty-first century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-polley/i-think-that-we-need-to-get-along-together-if-we-want-to-survive-in/) [Sarah Polley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-polley/) > [With being a mother, I feel like you choose how you spend your time so much more carefully - which is a good thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-polley/with-being-a-mother-i-feel-like-you-choose-how-you-spend-your-time-so/) [Sarah Polley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-polley/) > [There is no point trying to figure out who is guilty or not at un-balancing the planet. I think we need to figure out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-polley/there-is-no-point-trying-to-figure-out-who-is-guilty-or-not-at-un/) [Sarah Polley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-polley/) > [We're in this space right now where things are very precarious for women and things in the States are so terrifying. There are so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-polley/we-re-in-this-space-right-now-where-things-are-very-precarious-for/) [Sarah Polley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-polley/) > [In fact, there's an entire universe out there that's pretty much indifferent to struggles that big, no matter how serious they've been in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-polley/in-fact-there-s-an-entire-universe-out-there-that-s-pretty-much/) [Sarah Polley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-polley/) > [I am aware that I've generally been more attracted to introspective roles, but it's sort of bizarre, because it's the opposite of who I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-polley/i-am-aware-that-i-ve-generally-been-more-attracted-to-introspective/) [Sarah Polley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-polley/) > [I enjoy doing my more intimate and less commercial pictures and also I enjoy directing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-polley/i-enjoy-doing-my-more-intimate-and-less-commercial-pictures-and-also/) [Sarah Polley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-polley/) > [Being a human being is all about experiencing all of the wonders of the world and therefore as an actress, I'm open to any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-polley/being-a-human-being-is-all-about-experiencing-all-of-the-wonders-of/) [Sarah Polley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-polley/) > [Playing roles that are intense and damaged has always come more easily to me than doing comedies or lighter stuff - that would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-polley/playing-roles-that-are-intense-and-damaged-has-always-come-more/) [Sarah Polley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-polley/) > [I think that I get different kinds of joy out of directing a film and acting, and it's sort of necessary to just be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-polley/i-think-that-i-get-different-kinds-of-joy-out-of-directing-a-film-and/) [Sarah Polley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-polley/) > [ We're still at a point where women \[directors\] aren't allowed to be mad visionaries. We have to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-polley/we-re-still-at-a-point-where-women-directors-aren-t-allowed-to-be-mad/) [Sarah Polley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-polley/) > [I think that cynicism can often be mistaken for wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-polley/i-think-that-cynicism-can-often-be-mistaken-for-wisdom/) [Sarah Polley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-polley/) > [All of my short films are about marriages, and I think that this probably comes from some kind of unconscious fascination with my parents'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-polley/all-of-my-short-films-are-about-marriages-and-i-think-that-this/) [Sarah Polley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-polley/) > [So I decided to make a film about our need to tell stories, to own our stories, to understand them, and to have them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-polley/so-i-decided-to-make-a-film-about-our-need-to-tell-stories-to-own-our/) [Sarah Polley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-polley/) [Explore all 44 Sarah Polley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-polley/) ## More Feminism quotes > [“But benevolent patriarchy is still patriarchy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/but-benevolent-patriarchy-is-still-patriarchy/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [“This story is not at all an uncommon one in tech circles, including gaming. The popular notion is that women who get ahead must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bailey-poland/this-story-is-not-at-all-an-uncommon-one-in-tech-circles-including/) [Bailey Poland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bailey-poland/) > [Without meaning to sound anti-men, ghastly women are the closest you get to a male role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-burke/without-meaning-to-sound-anti-men-ghastly-women-are-the-closest-you/) [Kathy Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-burke/) > [If the women in the factories stopped work for twenty minutes, the Allies would lose the war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joffre/if-the-women-in-the-factories-stopped-work-for-twenty-minutes-the/) [Joseph Joffre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joffre/) > [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [“If attempting to make the world a civilized one, makes you a bad woman in the eyes of the dumb patriarchal society, then, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-attempting-to-make-the-world-a-civilized-one-makes-you-a-bad-woman/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“there was something of the women molded into the great, stalwart frame of Hollingsworth; nor was he ashamed of it; as men often are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-hawthorne/there-was-something-of-the-women-molded-into-the-great-stalwart-frame/) [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-hawthorne/) > [Women rule the world. It's not really worth fighting because they know what they're doing. Ask Napoleon. Ask Adam. Ask Richard Burton or Richie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bon-jovi/women-rule-the-world-it-s-not-really-worth-fighting-because-they-know/) [Jon Bon Jovi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bon-jovi/) > [“Bármilyen idiótának, aki azt kérdezi: „Feminista vagy? Akkor elégeted a melltartóidat, mi? HE? Melltartókat égetsz, te feminista?” – szép nyugodtan így kell válaszolni: „Ostoba.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-moran/b-rmilyen-idi-t-nak-aki-azt-k-rdezi-feminista-vagy-akkor-el-geted-a/) [Caitlin Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-moran/) > [People are capable of great, great change during the span of one lifetime. And women even more than men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/people-are-capable-of-great-great-change-during-the-span-of-one/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [Susan B. Anthony must be turning in her grave if she knew that millions of women who have the right to vote are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-m-kunin/susan-b-anthony-must-be-turning-in-her-grave-if-she-knew-that/) [Madeleine M. Kunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-m-kunin/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [Women know things that men will never know. We keep the best secrets. We tell the best stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/women-know-things-that-men-will-never-know-we-keep-the-best-secrets/) [Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/) > [“Women will be at least 50 percent of the communications community workforce … from executive suite to interns. Why? The “integrated” agency will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoram-wind/women-will-be-at-least-50-percent-of-the-communications-community/) [Yoram Wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoram-wind/) [Browse all 15,705 Feminism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I feel like we want women to be simpler, less complex, so we project a lot of versions of simplicity onto them to fit that.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sarah Polley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-polley/i-feel-like-we-want-women-to-be-simpler-less-complex-so-we-project-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Feminism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-polley/i-feel-like-we-want-women-to-be-simpler-less-complex-so-we-project-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/sarah-polley-14950_feminism_i-feel-like-we-want-women-to-be-simpler_3039969.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/sarah-polley-14950_feminism_i-feel-like-we-want-women-to-be-simpler_3039969.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/sarah-polley-14950_feminism_i-feel-like-we-want-women-to-be-simpler_3039969.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I feel like we want women to be simpler, less complex, so we project a lot of versions of simplicity onto…” — Sarah Polley", "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": "Sarah Polley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-polley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I feel like we want women...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-polley/i-feel-like-we-want-women-to-be-simpler-less-complex-so-we-project-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-polley/i-feel-like-we-want-women-to-be-simpler-less-complex-so-we-project-a/#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 } } ] } ```