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Quote by Adrienne Rich

Work

Of Woman Born: Motherhood as Experience and Institution

This book delves into the multifaceted nature of motherhood, analyzing its impact on individuals and society. It explores the personal experiences of mothers and the broader institutional structures that shape motherhood, offering a comprehensive look at this complex and significant aspect of human life. more

Author

Adrienne Rich
Adrienne Rich

Adrienne Rich was an American poet known for her profound poetry and feminist perspective. Her works explored themes such as gender, politics, and social justice, having a profound impact on contemporary poetry. more

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“Institutionalized motherhood demands of women maternal 'instinct' rather than intelligence, selflessness rather than self-realization, relation to others rather than the creation of self. Motherhood is 'sacred' so long as its offspring are 'legitimate' -- that is, as long as the child bears the name of a father who legally controls the mothe.r”

“If he is to know 'his' children, he must have control over their reproduction, which means he musut possess their mother exclusively...it cuts back to the male need to say: 'I, too, have the power of procreation--these are my seed, my own begotten children, my proof of elemental power.' In addition, of course, the children are the future receivers of the patrimony.”

“¿Cómo opera el psicópata? Engañándote, te hace creer que existen otras historias, y después de todo, los cuentos de hadas no están tan mal. A él si lo necesitas porque te da todo, absolutamente todo lo que tiene, “hasta quedar en deuda conmigo mismo”, como dice la canción. Te apantallas, te sientes valorada finalmente, reconocida no como una guerrera lodosa, sino una mujer limpia, sin máculas o resentimientos. Es más, ningún hombre te había dicho “te amo” con tanta valentía y solvencia emocional. A veces hasta te proponen matrimonio o vivir juntos, la segunda o tercera vez que se acuestan contigo. Montan un teatro que les funciona, te muestran pruebas de lo que dicen y hacen. Se aprovechan de las carencias afectivas que tienes, llenan esos huecos, los desbordan.”

“She wondered if every place in New Orleans had a secret garden, if every place was so witchy and beautiful. And for the first time, she was filled with an enormous pride for who she was--what she was, all of it. That pride filled the spaces between her bones so that it was impossible not to stand tall. Anxiety makes everything feel very big or very small, depending on which is more hurtful in the moment. Being suddenly relived of anxiety in this moment gave her a clear understanding that this was the life she had been running towards. Not necessarily New Orleans, not a distant dot on a map, not a brand-new career, but a life full of secret gardens”