Feminism Quote by Tina Fey
““When did you first feel like a grown woman and not a girl?” We wrote down our answers and shared them, first in pairs, then in larger groups. The group of women was racially and economically diverse, but the answers had a very similar theme. Almost everyone first realized they were becoming a grown woman when some dude did something nasty to them. “I was walking home from ballet and a guy in a car yelled, ‘Lick me!’” “I was babysitting my younger cousins when a guy drove by and yelled, ‘Nice ass.’” There were pretty much zero examples like “I first knew I was a woman when my mother and father took me out to dinner to celebrate my success on the debate team.” It was mostly men yelling shit from cars. Are they a patrol sent out to let girls know they’ve crossed into puberty? If so, it’s working.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: 2014 Comedy Central Roast, Tina Fey, 2014
Women often recognize adulthood after experiencing harassment, highlighting how male aggression shapes gender identity perception.
In simple terms: Harassment often marks a painful rite of passage for women.
Recognize and challenge harassment.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- school
- workplace
- public spaces
- online interactions
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does harassment influence self‑perception?
- What can communities do to prevent such experiences?
Harassment is not a healthy rite of passage; it reflects systemic misogyny.