Class Quote by Shulamith Firestone
“Women were the slave class that maintained the species in order to free the other half for the business of the world.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Dialectic of Sex” (1970)
Women are portrayed as the labor force that sustains humanity, allowing men to dominate economic and political spheres.
In simple terms: Women do the essential work that frees men for power.
Key Takeaway
Recognize women's contributions and challenge gendered labor divisions.
Themes
gender
labor
power
equality
feminism
Mood
critical
thoughtful
determined
Type
theoretical
political
activist
When to use this quote
- workplace policies
- educational curricula
- activism
- policy reform
Key Concepts
social theory
marxist feminism
gender roles
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies value all labor equally?
- What alternatives exist to the binary labor model?
A Different Perspective
The statement may oversimplify complex gender dynamics and ignore men's oppression.
![“[U]nless oppressed groups stick together, and on alliances of self interest rather than do-goodism; nothing can be accomplished in the long run to dismantle the apparatus of oppression.” quote by Shulamith Firestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d7b/shulamith-firestone-12980_accomplished_u-nless-oppressed-groups-stick-together_5485.jpg)
