Anthology Quote by Ursula K. Le Guin
“No matter how successful, beloved, influential her work was, when a woman author dies, nine times out of ten, she gets dropped from the lists, the courses, the anthologies, while the men get kept. ... If she had the nerve to have children, her chances of getting dropped are higher still. ... So if you want your writing to be taken seriously, don't marry and have kids, and above all, don't die. But if you have to die, commit suicide. They approve of that.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Future of Women Writers, 1990
Women writers are disproportionately erased after death, especially if they have children, suggesting systemic bias in literary canon formation.
In simple terms: Women writers vanish after death, especially mothers.
Key Takeaway
Challenge gender bias in literary history.
Themes
gender inequality
legacy
canon formation
Mood
critical
urgent
Type
feminist
social commentary
When to use this quote
- academic curricula
- anthology selection
- publishing decisions
- family expectations
Key Concepts
feminist critique
systemic bias
Questions to Reflect On
- How can institutions preserve women's contributions?
- What policies support writer‑parents?
A Different Perspective
The advice to avoid marriage and children is extreme and ignores personal choice.
