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Quote by Laura Bates

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Everyday Sexism

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Laura Bates
Laura Bates

Laura Bates is a British writer known for her advocacy for gender equality and against sexual harassment. Born on August 27, 1986, she gained widespread attention for founding the 'Everyday Sexism' website, which documents the experiences of women worldwide with gender discrimination. more

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“They leave the genitals off Barbie and Ken, but they manufacture every kind of war toy. Because sex is more threatening to us than aggression. There have been strict rules about sex since the beginning of written rules, and even before, if we can believe myth. I think that's because it's in sex that men feel most vulnerable. In war they can hype themselves up, or they have a weapon. Sex means being literally naked and exposing your feelings. And that's more terrifying to most men than the risk of dying while fighting a bear or a soldier.”

MenWarSexViolenceVulnerabilityAggressionMen SuckMen S Fears
Book:The Women's Room
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“I was lonely, desperate, and angry. At that moment, I truly understood what it meant to be a Saudi woman. It meant being confronted with every possible kind of obstacle and discrimination. It meant being told that if you want to race with men, you’d have to do it with your hands and legs cut off. I started to wish I had been born somewhere—anywhere—else.”

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Book:Daring to Drive: A Saudi Woman's Awakening
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“It does seem true that a young woman may sometimes behave in a way that can be called titillating, and that men take such behavior as being directed entirely at them. [...] I've often seen blushing young men with shining eyes behave in the same way, but no one says of them that they want to be raped. If, after taking a few steps forward, they then decide to retreat, no one accuses them of being cunt teasers. In fact, the disappointed woman probably thinks it's all her fault.”

MenInequalityHypocrisyRapeRape Culture
Book:The Women's Room
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“—And what's so bad about being soft like a woman? Why is it men or whoever, some poor bastard, some queen, can't be sensitive, too, if he's got a mind to? —I don't know, but sometimes that kind of behavior can get in a man's way. —When? When it comes to torturing?” —No, when it comes to being finished with the torturers.” —But if men acted like women there wouldn't be anymore torturers.”

MenWomenTortureTorturers
Book:Kiss of the Spider Woman
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