--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thought I would write something that…" description: "\"I thought I would write something that would make some people uncomfortable. . . . What intrigued me, I think, was the idea of women of my own generati..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b1/wendy-wasserstein-17736_arena_i-thought-i-would-write-something-that-w_1466063.png" --- # I thought I would write something that would make some… ![“I thought I would write something that would make some people uncomfortable. . . . What intrigued me, I think, was the idea of women of my own generation who were successful, intelligent, coming to power and suddenly in the public arena. I started to think about what they are allowed and what they…” quote by Wendy Wasserstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b1/wendy-wasserstein-17736_arena_i-thought-i-would-write-something-that-w_1466063.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b1/wendy-wasserstein-17736_arena_i-thought-i-would-write-something-that-w_1466063.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b1/wendy-wasserstein-17736_arena_i-thought-i-would-write-something-that-w_1466063.png) > “I thought I would write something that would make some people uncomfortable. . . . What intrigued me, I think, was the idea of women of my own generation who were successful, intelligent, coming to power and suddenly in the public arena. I started to think about what they are allowed and what they are not allowed.” [Wendy Wasserstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-wasserstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote reflects on the tension between women’s rising power and societal limits placed on them, highlighting discomfort in confronting gender expectations. **In simple terms:** Women gaining power face societal constraints. Key Takeaway Recognize and challenge gender barriers. Themes gender power societal expectations female ambition Mood reflective critical inspirational Type commentary social critique When to use this quote - career advancement - public speaking - media representation - policy advocacy Key Concepts feminism social critique generational change Questions to Reflect On - How do societal norms shape women's opportunities? - What can be done to expand acceptable roles? A Different Perspective May overlook individual agency within broader systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crafts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crafts/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Uncomfortable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncomfortable/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Feminism is, I hope, a way to a better future for everyone who inhabits this world. Feminism should not be something that needs a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxane-gay/feminism-is-i-hope-a-way-to-a-better-future-for-everyone-who-inhabits/) [Roxane Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxane-gay/) > [Today, investing is no longer just a good idea for women. It is a must-have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/today-investing-is-no-longer-just-a-good-idea-for-women-it-is-a-must/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [“But, Miss Spencer, I should strike a note of caution. I know there have been women archaeologists in Greece, in Turkey. Even Egypt. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamila-shamsie/but-miss-spencer-i-should-strike-a-note-of-caution-i-know-there-have/) [Kamila Shamsie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamila-shamsie/) > [I love the idea of women taking control of their money. It's something that many women are not familiar with, but it's crucial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-roy/i-love-the-idea-of-women-taking-control-of-their-money-it-s-something/) [Rachel Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-roy/) > [The '80s was all about this idea that women could have it all. You could have a career, and you could have a husband,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/the-80s-was-all-about-this-idea-that-women-could-have-it-all-you/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [The idea that women are actually getting some jobs - whoopee. I can't say that I celebrate it without a hint of cynicism, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anjelica-huston/the-idea-that-women-are-actually-getting-some-jobs-whoopee-i-can-t/) [Anjelica Huston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anjelica-huston/) > [I think the idea that women can stand up and be strong and still be seen as beautiful and sexual is kind of cool,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-aselton/i-think-the-idea-that-women-can-stand-up-and-be-strong-and-still-be/) [Katie Aselton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-aselton/) > [But the idea that women can't take care of themselves still permeates our culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-dunn/but-the-idea-that-women-can-t-take-care-of-themselves-still-permeates/) [Katherine Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-dunn/) > [Don't buy into the idea that women aren't strong enough to do anything they want on their own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cher/don-t-buy-into-the-idea-that-women-aren-t-strong-enough-to-do/) [Cher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cher/) > [People have this idea of motherhood, the same way they have an idea of women as we reach a certain age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-james/people-have-this-idea-of-motherhood-the-same-way-they-have-an-idea-of/) [Janelle James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-james/) > [I love the idea of women empowering other women. We need to come together and support one another and embrace one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-virtue/i-love-the-idea-of-women-empowering-other-women-we-need-to-come/) [Tessa Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-virtue/) > [We have to change this idea that women are only supposed to work in the house... Women should go out and be what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malala-yousafzai/we-have-to-change-this-idea-that-women-are-only-supposed-to-work-in/) [Malala Yousafzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malala-yousafzai/) > [I have no idea how women manage their hair. Seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyrus-broacha/i-have-no-idea-how-women-manage-their-hair-seriously/) [Cyrus Broacha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyrus-broacha/) > [You have no idea of the women I didn't marry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-have-no-idea-of-the-women-i-didn-t-marry/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The idea that women don't smell fine on our own is a problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/the-idea-that-women-don-t-smell-fine-on-our-own-is-a-problem/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) ## More by Wendy Wasserstein > [One of the things about what . . . I do - writing plays - is that a poll is not taken before you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-wasserstein/one-of-the-things-about-what-i-do-writing-plays-is-that-a-poll-is-not/) [Wendy Wasserstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-wasserstein/) > [anyone who writes plays is unbelievably persistent, because there isn't a need in the world for plays. Somehow you internally have to feel a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-wasserstein/anyone-who-writes-plays-is-unbelievably-persistent-because-there-isn/) [Wendy Wasserstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-wasserstein/) > [I really worked at becoming more assertive, and now none of my friends talk to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-wasserstein/i-really-worked-at-becoming-more-assertive-and-now-none-of-my-friends/) [Wendy Wasserstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-wasserstein/) > [Sometimes I want to clean up my desk and go out and say, respect me, I'm a respectable grown-up, and other times I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-wasserstein/sometimes-i-want-to-clean-up-my-desk-and-go-out-and-say-respect-me-i/) [Wendy Wasserstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-wasserstein/) > [Personally I don't spend much time thinking about being funny. 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Those people start speaking, and then I have them in the house with me and I live with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-wasserstein/i-very-much-write-from-characters-those-people-start-speaking-and/) [Wendy Wasserstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-wasserstein/) > [“In the world of The Age of Innocence , a financial disaster or moral scandal would permanently exile a guest from the finest dinner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-wasserstein/in-the-world-of-the-age-of-innocence-a-financial-disaster-or-moral/) [Wendy Wasserstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-wasserstein/) > [to live life as a writer is a very lucky thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-wasserstein/to-live-life-as-a-writer-is-a-very-lucky-thing/) [Wendy Wasserstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-wasserstein/) > [Sloth is the fastest-growing lifestyle movement in the world, and that's because it is completely doable. If you embrace sloth, it's the last thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-wasserstein/sloth-is-the-fastest-growing-lifestyle-movement-in-the-world-and-that/) [Wendy Wasserstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-wasserstein/) > [I'm not going to throw my imagination away. I refuse to lie down to expectation. If I can just hold out till I'm thirty,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-wasserstein/i-m-not-going-to-throw-my-imagination-away-i-refuse-to-lie-down-to/) [Wendy Wasserstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-wasserstein/) [Explore all 36 Wendy Wasserstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-wasserstein/) ## More Arena quotes > [The sidelines are not where you want to live your life. The world needs you in the arena!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/the-sidelines-are-not-where-you-want-to-live-your-life-the-world/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [To see classic rock, you had to go to an arena. 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The question is what does the software do with video feeds? How to surface that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ballmer/every-nba-arena-has-six-cameras-in-the-ceiling-the-question-is-what/) [Steve Ballmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ballmer/) > [Most of my films I call arena films. I deal with a confined area -- an arena -- and I try to cover every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/most-of-my-films-i-call-arena-films-i-deal-with-a-confined-area-an/) [Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/) > [If you're also in the arena and you're putting your ideas out and you're owning them and you're saying "I disagree with you about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/if-you-re-also-in-the-arena-and-you-re-putting-your-ideas-out-and-you/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [The galleries are full of critics. They play no ball, they fight no fights. They make no mistakes because they attempt nothing. Down in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-m-shoup/the-galleries-are-full-of-critics-they-play-no-ball-they-fight-no/) [David M. Shoup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-m-shoup/) > [The rules of survival never change, whether you're in a desert or in an arena.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-grylls/the-rules-of-survival-never-change-whether-you-re-in-a-desert-or-in/) [Bear Grylls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-grylls/) > [We live in a very pluralistic society today. There are Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, atheists, Roman Catholics, Evangelical Christians, and Christians like me. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/we-live-in-a-very-pluralistic-society-today-there-are-buddhists/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [I just like playing music and doing it with people that I care about. It doesn't really matter where. 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