--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One distressing thing is the way men…" description: "\"One distressing thing is the way men react to women who assert their equality: their ultimate weapon is to call them unfeminine. They think she is anti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e0/shirley-chisholm-5073_distressing_one-distressing-thing-is-the-way-men-rea_2313616.jpg" --- # One distressing thing is the way men react to women who… ![“One distressing thing is the way men react to women who assert their equality: their ultimate weapon is to call them unfeminine. They think she is anti-male; they even whisper that she's probably a lesbian.” quote by Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e0/shirley-chisholm-5073_distressing_one-distressing-thing-is-the-way-men-rea_2313616.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e0/shirley-chisholm-5073_distressing_one-distressing-thing-is-the-way-men-rea_2313616.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e0/shirley-chisholm-5073_distressing_one-distressing-thing-is-the-way-men-rea_2313616.jpg) > “One distressing thing is the way men react to women who assert their equality: their ultimate weapon is to call them unfeminine. They think she is anti-male; they even whisper that she's probably a lesbian.” [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When women demand equal status, some men attack their femininity to undermine them, often labeling them as anti‑male or lesbian. **In simple terms:** Men attack women’s femininity to dismiss equality claims. Key Takeaway Recognize and call out gendered insults. Themes gender bias power dynamics feminism social perception Mood frustrated determined defiant Type critical analytical inspirational When to use this quote - workplace meetings - political debates - social media discussions - activist organizing Key Concepts misogyny stereotyping identity politics Questions to Reflect On - How do you respond when your equality is questioned? - What strategies can protect against gendered slurs? A Different Perspective Some may argue the label is a defensive reaction, not a deliberate weapon. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anti Male](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anti-male-980517/) [Distressing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distressing/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Males](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/males/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Probably Lesbian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/probably-lesbian-4426649/) [Social justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-justice/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Ultimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultimate/) [Unfeminine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unfeminine-1070687/) [Unfeminine Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unfeminine-think-1070688/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Weapon Unfeminine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapon-unfeminine-5504390/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) ## Related quotes > [I don't think being an athlete is unfeminine. I think of it as a kind of grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-joyner-kersee/i-don-t-think-being-an-athlete-is-unfeminine-i-think-of-it-as-a-kind/) [Jackie Joyner-Kersee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-joyner-kersee/) > [Don't let a friend make you feel publicly uncomfortable indefinitely just because they're probably a lesbian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/don-t-let-a-friend-make-you-feel-publicly-uncomfortable-indefinitely/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [Girls who put out are tramps. Girls who don't are ladies. This is, however, a rather archaic usage of the word. Should one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/girls-who-put-out-are-tramps-girls-who-don-t-are-ladies-this-is/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [Family law is institutionally anti-male. I've been lobbying MPs, and I'm not going to give up campaigning for equality until I get equality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-de-bernieres/family-law-is-institutionally-anti-male-i-ve-been-lobbying-mps-and-i/) [Louis de Bernieres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-de-bernieres/) > [When I criticize Joseph Beuys or Francis Bacon, nobody calls those opinions anti-male. Putting female artists or their subject matter off-limits is itself sexist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/when-i-criticize-joseph-beuys-or-francis-bacon-nobody-calls-those/) [Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/) > [“Women's liberation is one thing, but the permeation of anti-male sentiment in post-modern popular culture - from our mocking sitcom plots to degrading commercial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-madison/women-s-liberation-is-one-thing-but-the-permeation-of-anti-male/) [Tiffany Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-madison/) > [I don't harbor any anti-male feeling in my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-wilson/i-don-t-harbor-any-anti-male-feeling-in-my-heart/) [Ann Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-wilson/) > [The argument that 'boys will be boys' actually carries the profoundly anti-male implication that we should expect bad behavior from boys and men. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-katz/the-argument-that-boys-will-be-boys-actually-carries-the-profoundly/) [Jackson Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-katz/) > [“Militant might in women is named as unfeminine aggression; scholarship in women is diminished into a domestic art. Religious life is viewed as sexual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/militant-might-in-women-is-named-as-unfeminine-aggression-scholarship/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [For women to succeed in politics, business and entrepreneurial ventures they have to battle against a stereotype of being heartless and unfeminine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karla-crome/for-women-to-succeed-in-politics-business-and-entrepreneurial/) [Karla Crome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karla-crome/) > [I hate to say it, but one of the worst things you could be called when I was younger was unfeminine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viv-albertine/i-hate-to-say-it-but-one-of-the-worst-things-you-could-be-called-when/) [Viv Albertine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viv-albertine/) > [Stupidity in a woman is unfeminine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/stupidity-in-a-woman-is-unfeminine/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Not many women will go out on a limb to make themselves really unattractive and unfeminine so you can get the laughs, but it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/not-many-women-will-go-out-on-a-limb-to-make-themselves-really/) [Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/) > [“In spite of all the progress, the fact remains that being “too” anything that’s considered unfeminine can cause people of both genders to perceive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-young/in-spite-of-all-the-progress-the-fact-remains-that-being-too-anything/) [Valerie Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-young/) > [“Shall a woman be flayed alive because it is unfeminine in her to fight for her own skin?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/shall-a-woman-be-flayed-alive-because-it-is-unfeminine-in-her-to/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) ## More by Shirley Chisholm > [It is obvious that discrimination exists. Women do not have the opportunities that men do. And women that do not conform to the system,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/it-is-obvious-that-discrimination-exists-women-do-not-have-the/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [Legal discrimination between the sexes is, in almost every instance, founded on outmoded views of society and the pre-scientific beliefs about psychology and physiology.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/legal-discrimination-between-the-sexes-is-in-almost-every-instance/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [Tremendous amounts of talent are lost to our society just because that talent wears a skirt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/tremendous-amounts-of-talent-are-lost-to-our-society-just-because/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [It is not heroin or cocaine that makes one an addict, it is the need to escape from a harsh reality. There are more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/it-is-not-heroin-or-cocaine-that-makes-one-an-addict-it-is-the-need/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [I love America not for what she is, but for what she can become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/i-love-america-not-for-what-she-is-but-for-what-she-can-become/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [I am and always will be a catalyst for change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/i-am-and-always-will-be-a-catalyst-for-change/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [The liberals in the House strongly resemble liberals I have known through the last two decades in the civil rights conflict. When it comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/the-liberals-in-the-house-strongly-resemble-liberals-i-have-known/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [I am not antiwhite, because I understand that white people, like black ones, are victims of a racist society. They are products of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/i-am-not-antiwhite-because-i-understand-that-white-people-like-black/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [The emotional, sexual, and psychological stereotyping of females begins when the doctor says: It's a girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/the-emotional-sexual-and-psychological-stereotyping-of-females-begins/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [I had met far more discrimination because I am a woman than because I am black.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/i-had-met-far-more-discrimination-because-i-am-a-woman-than-because-i/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [Some fine men are in Congress, too few, trying to do a responsible job. But they are surrounded and almost neutralized by a greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/some-fine-men-are-in-congress-too-few-trying-to-do-a-responsible-job/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [“Following along the path of her role models, Shirley knew that if she waited for permission, she’d never receive her turn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/following-along-the-path-of-her-role-models-shirley-knew-that-if-she/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [I ran because somebody had to do it first. In this country, everybody is supposed to be able to run for president, but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/i-ran-because-somebody-had-to-do-it-first-in-this-country-everybody/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [“The most tragic error into which older people can fall is one that is common among educators and politicians. It is to use youth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/the-most-tragic-error-into-which-older-people-can-fall-is-one-that-is/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) > [I have never cared too much what people say. What I am interested in is what they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chisholm/i-have-never-cared-too-much-what-people-say-what-i-am-interested-in/) [Shirley Chisholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) [Explore all 103 Shirley Chisholm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chisholm/) ## More Distressing quotes > [If you film a scene in a wide shot, especially a disturbing, distressing moment, I do feel like that helps you feel as though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-karpovsky/if-you-film-a-scene-in-a-wide-shot-especially-a-disturbing/) [Alex Karpovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-karpovsky/) > [There is nothing more distressing ... than the hard, scoffing spirit which treats the allegation of dishonesty in a public man as a cause…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-is-nothing-more-distressing-than-the-hard-scoffing-spirit-which/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [At this very moment,... the most frightful horrors are taking place in every corner of the world. People are being crushed, slashed, disembowelled, mangled;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/at-this-very-moment-the-most-frightful-horrors-are-taking-place-in/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [The old knowledge had been difficult but not distressing. It had been all paradox and myth, and it had made sense. The new knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/the-old-knowledge-had-been-difficult-but-not-distressing-it-had-been/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [What really worries me is that those who are in positions of power are not really affected by what we are writing. In the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/what-really-worries-me-is-that-those-who-are-in-positions-of-power/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [What I saw in Baltimore was distressing and it tells me we need stronger policies in this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/what-i-saw-in-baltimore-was-distressing-and-it-tells-me-we-need/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [It seems that some consideration should be given to the cause of our mounting physical disabilities, but instead of going to the root of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-roloff/it-seems-that-some-consideration-should-be-given-to-the-cause-of-our/) [Lester Roloff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-roloff/) > [Java and C++ make you think that the new ideas are like the old ones. Java is the most distressing thing to hit computing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/java-and-c-make-you-think-that-the-new-ideas-are-like-the-old-ones/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [The attention deficit disorder of the culture is very distressing in America now and I think it puts a lot of things at risk,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/the-attention-deficit-disorder-of-the-culture-is-very-distressing-in/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [Nothing is more sweet than harmony in marriage, and nothing more distressing than dissension.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/nothing-is-more-sweet-than-harmony-in-marriage-and-nothing-more/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [The idea of Herman Melville in a writing class is always distressing to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-bloom/the-idea-of-herman-melville-in-a-writing-class-is-always-distressing/) [Harold Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-bloom/) > [Twin primes: pairs of prime numbers that are close to each other, almost neighbors, but between them there is always an even number that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-giordano/twin-primes-pairs-of-prime-numbers-that-are-close-to-each-other/) [Paolo Giordano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-giordano/) > [“You're distressing Dani. No one distresses Dani but me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/you-re-distressing-dani-no-one-distresses-dani-but-me/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [The evils which of necessity encompass the life of man are sufficiently numerous. Why should we add to them by voluntarily distressing and destroying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-evils-which-of-necessity-encompass-the-life-of-man-are/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [It's estimated that across Africa 100 elephants are killed for their tusks every day. It takes nothing more than simple math to get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graydon-carter/it-s-estimated-that-across-africa-100-elephants-are-killed-for-their/) [Graydon Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graydon-carter/) [Browse all 117 Distressing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distressing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One distressing thing is the way men react to women who assert their equality: their ultimate weapon is to call them unfeminine. 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