Quotessence
Home / Books / Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions

Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions

Book by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie · 14 quotes · Feminism, Parenting, éGalité

Filter quotes by topic

AllFeminismParentingéGalitéFéminismeFeministChildrenEqualityFeminism QuotesFeminist AuthorsFeminist QuotesGender RolesGrandirPaternitéEnfantInégalitésInspirationInspirationalMalheurMotherhoodAccomplissement

Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions Quotes

“Feminism and femininity are not mutually exclusive. It is misogynistic to suggest that they are. Sadly, women have learned to be ashamed and apologetic about pursuits that are seen as traditionally female, such as fashion and makeup. But our society does not expect men to feel ashamed of pursuits considered generally male - sports cars, certain professional sports. In the same way, men's grooming is never suspect in the way women's grooming is - a well-dressed man does not worry that, because he is dressed well, certain assumptions might be made about his intelligence, his ability, or his seriousness. A woman, on the other hand, is always aware of how a bright lipstick or a carefully-put-together outfit might very well make others assume her to be frivolous.”

WomenFeminismFashionMakeupMisogynyFemininity
Book:Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions
Create image

“Many girls think of the 'feelings' of those who are hurting them. This is the catastrophic consequence of likeability. We have a world full of women who are unable to exhale fully because they have for so long been conditioned to fold themselves into shapes to make themselves likeable.”

SocietyFeminismSelf ActualizationGender Norms
Book:Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions
Create image

“There are people who say, 'Well, your name is also about patriarchy because it is your father's name.' Indeed. But the point is simply this: whether it came from my father or from the moon, it is the name that I have had since I was born, the name with which I travelled my life's milestones, the name I have answered to since the first day I went to kindergarten in Nsukka on a hazy morning and my teacher said, 'Answer "present" if you hear your name. Number one: Adichie!'.”

FeminismPatriarchyNameLast NameName Changes
Book:Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions
Create image

“Teach her about difference. Make difference ordinary. Make difference normal. Teach her not to attach value to difference. And the reason for this is not to be fair or to be nice but merely to be human and practical. Because difference is the reality of our world. And by teaching her about difference, you are equipping her to survive in a diverse world. She must know and understand that people walk different paths in the world and that as long as those paths do no harm to others, they are valid paths that she must respect. Teach her that we do not know – we cannot know – everything about life. Both religion and science have spaces for the things we do not know, and it is enough to make peace with that. Teach her never to universalise her own standards or experiences. Teach her that her standards are for her alone, and not for other people. This is the only necessary form of humility: the realisation that difference is normal.”

InspirationalFeminismDiversityEquality
Book:Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions
Create image