“Feminism … I think the simplest explanation, and one that captures the idea, is a song that Marlo Thomas sang, 'Free to be You and Me.' Free to be, if you were a girl—doctor, lawyer, Indian chief. Anything you want to be. And if you’re a boy, and you like teaching, you like nursing, you would like to have a doll, that’s OK too. That notion that we should each be free to develop our own talents, whatever they may be, and not be held back by artificial barriers—manmade barriers, certainly not heaven sent.” IfsThinkingWantShouldMayIdeasSongGirlHeavenBoysFeminismTeachingTalentDoctorsNotionLawyerChiefsIndianExplanationBarriersCaptureBe YouArtificialSimplestNursingDollsHeaven SentIndian Chief Author:Ruth Bader Ginsburg
“Girls . . . were allowed to play in the house . . . and boys were sent outdoors. . . . Boys ran around in the yard with toy guns going kksshh-kksshh, fighting wars for made-up reasons and arguing about who was dead, while girls stayed inside and played with dolls, creating complex family groups and learning how to solve problems through negotiation and roleplaying. Which gender is better equipped, on the whole, to live an adult life, would you guess?” MadeWarReasonPlayWholeProblemGirlFightingHouseBoysGroupsCreatingGunAdultsComplexesGenderSolveArguingRanToysYardsNegotiationDollsToy Guns Author:Garrison Keillor
“When I was a kid, I did want to be a boy. I didn't like to play with dolls, and most of my friends were kind of sensitive, sissy boys. But as I got older, the mystique of being a girl began to interest me. It was confusing what sexuality was, and the responses of other people, but it didn't make me feel terrified or vulnerable.” PeopleWantFeelsKindPlayKidsGirlInterestBoysMy FriendsResponseSexualityVulnerableSensitiveTerrifiedConfusingDollsMystiqueSissyBeing A Girl Author:Mary Gaitskill
“All I can say is that when millions of plastic dolls of you are being sold each day and an equal number of teenage boys are masturbating over you each night, it's bound to do something screwy to your psyche.” I CanNightNumbersBoysMillionsEqualBoundsEach DayOver YouPlasticTeenageDolls Author:Carrie Fisher
“Every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top. My mama, she told me don't worry about your size. She says boys like a little more booty to hold at night. Yeah I won't be no stick figure silicone Barbie doll, so if that's what you're into then go ahead and move along.” IfsLittlesMovingNightPerfectBoysWorryFiguresYeahSticksBottomSizeInchesMamaDollsBarbieBootyBarbie Dolls Author:Meghan Trainor
“I've been a feminist since the day I was born. I wanted to play football. I didn't want to play with dolls; I wanted to play with boys and didn't understand why I couldn't.” WantPlayWantedBornBoysFootballFeministDolls Author:Lizzy Caplan