--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our laws and institutions concerning…" description: "\"“Our laws and institutions concerning women's rights and male prerogatives are changing, but many men still believe that their masculine image depends ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64f/susan-forward-4980_women-s-rights_our-laws-and-institutions-concerning-wom_176137.jpg" --- # Our laws and institutions concerning women's rights and… ![“Our laws and institutions concerning women's rights and male prerogatives are changing, but many men still believe that their masculine image depends on their ability to dominate and control women. Our culture reinforces this idea by depicting women as appropriate targets for men's hostilities. In…” quote by Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64f/susan-forward-4980_women-s-rights_our-laws-and-institutions-concerning-wom_176137.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64f/susan-forward-4980_women-s-rights_our-laws-and-institutions-concerning-wom_176137.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64f/susan-forward-4980_women-s-rights_our-laws-and-institutions-concerning-wom_176137.jpg) > ““Our laws and institutions concerning women's rights and male prerogatives are changing, but many men still believe that their masculine image depends on their ability to dominate and control women. Our culture reinforces this idea by depicting women as appropriate targets for men's hostilities. In literature, movies, and television, women are used by men as shields, foils, and hostages. They are raped, beaten, and shot with frightening regularity. Pornography implies that a woman's inherent seductiveness justifies any sadistic and/or sexual act a man wishes to commit against her.”” [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights how societal norms and media portray women as objects for male dominance, normalizing violence and exploitation against women. **In simple terms:** Society often treats women as objects for male control, leading to violence. Key Takeaway Challenge and that and demand respect. Themes gender equality media influence violence against women masculinity power dynamics Mood frustrated determined hopeful Type critical advocacy educational When to use this quote - media analysis - policy advocacy - education programs - support services for survivors - men's accountability groups Key Concepts patriarchy objectification cultural conditioning toxic masculinity Questions to Reflect On - How can media be reshaped to depict women as autonomous? - What steps can individuals take to counteract these harmful narratives? A Different Perspective It may overlook men who also suffer from rigid gender expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Women'S Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women-s-rights-2/) ## Related quotes > [If thou makest a statement concerning women, lo, she shall immediately try to disprove it straightway. 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If men don’t have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-watson/if-men-don-t-have-to-be-aggressive-in-order-to-be-accepted-women-won/) [Emma Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-watson/) > [Women well understood how to restrict birth through timing of sexual intercourse, herbs and abortifacients. I suspect the focus on men's control of women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/women-well-understood-how-to-restrict-birth-through-timing-of-sexual/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [I never did that badly with women when I wasn't on telly, but it's a bit out of control now. Women try it on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-fielding/i-never-did-that-badly-with-women-when-i-wasn-t-on-telly-but-it-s-a/) [Noel Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-fielding/) > [“I question the more or less psychoanalytic perspective that the male need to control women sexually results from some primal male "fear of women"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/i-question-the-more-or-less-psychoanalytic-perspective-that-the-male/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [For men to focus on controlling women's reproduction to solve a society's problems seems nothing short of mad or, at best, superstitious. But men's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-french/for-men-to-focus-on-controlling-women-s-reproduction-to-solve-a/) [Marilyn French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-french/) > [Denying bodily autonomy to control women is antiquated and unacceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-n-green/denying-bodily-autonomy-to-control-women-is-antiquated-and/) [Al N. Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-n-green/) > [So many of these decisions are made in a vacuum with a bunch of men sitting around a table deciding what a woman's rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-whitmer/so-many-of-these-decisions-are-made-in-a-vacuum-with-a-bunch-of-men/) [Gretchen Whitmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-whitmer/) > [“In the problem of women was the germ of a solution, not only for their oppression, but for everybody's. The control of women in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/in-the-problem-of-women-was-the-germ-of-a-solution-not-only-for-their/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [Actually, even our virility depends on the gaze and the control of women. Without women, we cannot do anything. I think it's a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ousmane-sembene/actually-even-our-virility-depends-on-the-gaze-and-the-control-of/) [Ousmane Sembene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ousmane-sembene/) > [Networking is extremely masculine. It's a vulnerable thing to admit to, but even I experience feeling super insecure around certain masculine meetings. So, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-wolfe-herd/networking-is-extremely-masculine-it-s-a-vulnerable-thing-to-admit-to/) [Whitney Wolfe Herd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-wolfe-herd/) > [It should be self-evident that women have the right to make decisions about their own bodies. Yet throughout history, those in power - usually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabella-lovin/it-should-be-self-evident-that-women-have-the-right-to-make-decisions/) [Isabella Lovin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabella-lovin/) > [My experience of men in cars has always been that if you don't want them to do something, they will. It is when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/my-experience-of-men-in-cars-has-always-been-that-if-you-don-t-want/) [Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/) ## More by Susan Forward > [“Instead of promoting healthy development, they unconsciously undermine it, often with the belief that they are acting in their child’s best interest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/instead-of-promoting-healthy-development-they-unconsciously-undermine/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [Criticism is the fountainhead of control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/criticism-is-the-fountainhead-of-control/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [“It’s amazing how people can change behind closed doors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/it-s-amazing-how-people-can-change-behind-closed-doors/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [“The initial disappointment for the misogynist usually occurs early in the relationship. However, because there is so much excitement and romance going on, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/the-initial-disappointment-for-the-misogynist-usually-occurs-early-in/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [“Reality Check His lying is not contigent on who you are or what you do. His lying is not your fault. Lying is his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/reality-check-his-lying-is-not-contigent-on-who-you-are-or-what-you/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [“Many misogynists use this method of turning the tables to deflect blame from themselves. They may say: "You are too sensitive"; "You're overreacting"; "You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/many-misogynists-use-this-method-of-turning-the-tables-to-deflect/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [“Children expect different things from each parent. Traditionally, the mother is expected to protect and defend the children, while the father is seen as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/children-expect-different-things-from-each-parent-traditionally-the/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [“As children, because of our dependency, we experience a sense of being powerless in a world of powerful people. If our home environments are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/as-children-because-of-our-dependency-we-experience-a-sense-of-being/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [“Some misogynists do not resort to the obvious cruelty of scare tactics and screamed insults to gain control of their partners. Instead of raising…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/some-misogynists-do-not-resort-to-the-obvious-cruelty-of-scare/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [“Children from high-drama households often grow up with the idea that tension is an integral part of love. Therefore, the girl who grows up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/children-from-high-drama-households-often-grow-up-with-the-idea-that/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [“Anger is a normal human emotion and all children experience it to some degree, but many parents have difficulty dealing with it. Often they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/anger-is-a-normal-human-emotion-and-all-children-experience-it-to/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [When your lover is a liar, you and he have a lot in common, you're both lying to you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/when-your-lover-is-a-liar-you-and-he-have-a-lot-in-common-you-re-both/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [“Women in troubled marriages frequently try to work out their problems through their children. Whether a woman does this through the extremes of overwhelming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/women-in-troubled-marriages-frequently-try-to-work-out-their-problems/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [“Inherent in his fear of this dependency is the equally dreadful fear that she will leave him. His terrors of being alone, of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/inherent-in-his-fear-of-this-dependency-is-the-equally-dreadful-fear/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) > [“It is a fear that must be defended against at all costs. In an effort to quell his anxiety, he tries to gain control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-forward/it-is-a-fear-that-must-be-defended-against-at-all-costs-in-an-effort/) [Susan Forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) [Explore all 102 Susan Forward quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-forward/) ## More Women'S Rights quotes > [“Shout out to the noisemakers. Our world needs your voices. Make noise for justice. Make noise for inclusion. Make noise for empathy. Make noise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stabile/shout-out-to-the-noisemakers-our-world-needs-your-voices-make-noise/) [Scott Stabile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stabile/) > [It's incredible being a woman. I was, of course, fortunate to have an Irish mother who is an empowered woman. She comes from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/it-s-incredible-being-a-woman-i-was-of-course-fortunate-to-have-an/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [All men should be feminists. If men cared about women's rights, the world would be a better place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/all-men-should-be-feminists-if-men-cared-about-women-s-rights-the/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [The strongest statement ever made about women's rights appears on page one of the Bible. 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You have a right to your liberty, and you should have a right to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/rights-mean-you-have-a-right-to-your-life-you-have-a-right-to-your/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [ \[The Republicans\] all want to see women's rights eroded and for abortion to become illegal again. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/the-republicans-all-want-to-see-women-s-rights-eroded-and-for/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [“To maximize what you get out of your college experience, I want your friends to look at your semester schedule and say “this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-maximize-what-you-get-out-of-your-college-experience-i-want-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've often observed that women can be the weakest link in women's rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-sasson/i-ve-often-observed-that-women-can-be-the-weakest-link-in-women-s/) [Jean Sasson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-sasson/) > ['The Handmaid's Tale' is a human story, and women's rights are human rights, and it's all about equality, but at the end of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvonne-strahovski/the-handmaid-s-tale-is-a-human-story-and-women-s-rights-are-human/) [Yvonne Strahovski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvonne-strahovski/) > [The US is off the spectrum in religious commitment. 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We have seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/i-realize-that-violence-is-not-more-prevalent-today-than-in-previous/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) [Browse all 305 Women'S Rights quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women-s-rights-2/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Our laws and institutions concerning women's rights and male prerogatives are changing, but many men still believe that their masculine image depends on their ability to dominate and control women. Our culture reinforces this idea by depicting women as appropriate targets for men's hostilities. In literature, movies, and television, women are used by men as shields, foils, and hostages. They are raped, beaten, and shot with frightening regularity. 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