Able Quote by Vivian Gornick
“We all grew up so utterly vulnerable, enthralled by romantic love as we knew it. First of all, it was pounded into you every which way that you've got to get married and you've got to have babies. That you're not a natural woman if you don't. So that led to a lot of sitting by the telephone and waiting for a call. And that led you into a culture in which you were always in a subordinate position without realizing it; hamstrung, not able to take action. That was the most important thing: you were always waiting to be desired.”
About This Quote
Societal expectations force women into passive roles, waiting for validation rather than acting.
In simple terms: Women are taught to wait for desire, not act.
Key Takeaway
Encourage proactive agency.
Themes
gender
society
passivity
Mood
hopeful
determined
Type
analytical
motivational
When to use this quote
- relationship coaching
- career mentoring
- activism training
Key Concepts
feminist critique
social conditioning
Questions to Reflect On
- What steps can break this pattern?
- How can you claim agency today?
A Different Perspective
Changing deep‑rooted norms takes collective effort.
![“People have to allow themselves to be used by God and Martin [Luther King, Jr.] committed himself totally to God's will and purpose and God is always waiting for someone who is willing to do that.” quote by Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c5e/coretta-scott-king-3912_always-waiting_people-have-to-allow-themselves-to-be-us_326548.jpg)
