Children Quote by Ursula K. Le Guin
““She thought about how it was to have been a woman in the prime of life, with children and a man, and then to lose all that, becoming old and a widow, powerless. But even so she did not feel she understood his shame, his agony of humiliation. Perhaps only a man could feel so. A woman got used to shame.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Left Hand of Darkness, 1969
She reflects on aging, widowhood, and the gendered experience of shame, noting women become accustomed to it while men may feel it more intensely.
In simple terms: A widow sees how shame affects men and women differently.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge gendered shame.
Themes
gender
aging
shame
power
identity
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- elderly women
- widowhood
- gender studies
- psychology
Key Concepts
feminist literature
existential reflection
Questions to Reflect On
- How does societal expectation shape gendered shame?
- Can shame be unlearned?
A Different Perspective
The quote may overgeneralize men's emotional capacity.
