Childbearing Quote by Ursula K. Le Guin
““The fact that everyone between seventeen and thirty-five or so is liable to be (as Nim put it) "tied down to childbearing," implies that no one is quite so thoroughly "tied down" here as women, elsewhere are likely to be--psychologically or physically. Burden and privilege are shared out pretty equally; everybody has the same risk to run or choice to make. Therefore nobody here is quite so free as a free male anywhere else.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Left Hand of Darkness, Ursula K. Le Guin, 1969
The quote highlights that in the depicted society, both genders share reproductive responsibilities and risks, making traditional gendered freedom less distinct.
In simple terms: Both sexes share childbearing duties, reducing gender gaps in freedom.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how shared responsibilities affect perceived liberty.
Themes
gender roles
freedom
equality
responsibility
social structure
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
sociological
philosophical
When to use this quote
- policy analysis
- gender studies
- social planning
- cross‑cultural comparison
Key Concepts
feminist theory
anthropology
political philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- How does shared childbearing reshape power dynamics?
- What other factors influence freedom in this society?
A Different Perspective
The analysis may overlook individual agency and cultural nuances beyond reproductive duties.
![“[The Spartans] ordered the maidens to exercise themselves with wrestling, running, throwing the quoit, and casting the dart, to the end that the fruit they conceived might, in strong and healthy bodies, take firmer root and find better growth, and withal that they, with this greater vigour, might…” quote by Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/914/plutarch-597_childbearing_the-spartans-ordered-the-maidens-to-exer_640648.jpg)
