Feminism Quote by Sheryl Sandberg
““First, women must come across as being nice, concerned about others, and “appropriately” female. When women take a more instrumental approach (“This is what I want and deserve”), people react far more negatively. There is a saying, “Think globally, act locally.” When negotiating, “Think personally, act communally.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks on Women in Leadership, Sheryl Sandberg, 2015
Women often must present themselves as caring and traditionally feminine to be accepted; assertiveness can trigger backlash.
In simple terms: Women are judged more harshly when they are assertive.
Key Takeaway
Balance authenticity with strategic self‑presentation.
Themes
gender bias
leadership
communication
social expectations
Mood
frustrated
determined
Type
advice
observational
When to use this quote
- career negotiations
- team meetings
- public speaking
- networking
Key Concepts
feminine stereotypes
assertiveness
double bind
Questions to Reflect On
- How can organizations reduce bias against assertive women?
- What strategies help maintain authenticity while navigating expectations?
A Different Perspective
Effectiveness may be limited by entrenched stereotypes.
![“[Eric Schmidt] explained that only one criterion that mattered when picking a job- fat growth. When companies grow quickly, there are more things to do than there are people to do them. When companies grow more slowly or stop growing, there is less to do and too many people to not be doing them…” quote by Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/23b/sheryl-sandberg-439_feminism_eric-schmidt-explained-that-only-one-cri_16526.jpg)
