People are not going to give up marriage. But we can try to make it more fair. We can try to change that institution and make it more equal. Jessica Valenti More Quotes by Jessica Valenti More Quotes From Jessica Valenti I think that we're our own worst enemies in a lot of ways, especially when it comes to doing work where you're criticized a lot or doing work where there's a lot of hater directed at you; and to not constantly second-guess yourself. Jessica Valenti worst-enemy way thinking I think I was in high school, actually, and it was a guidance counselor or someone said, you know, you're just too loud; like you need to just stop talking so much and stop being so opinionated; like no one wants to listen to you because you're really annoying. And I'm glad that I didn't shut up, because it seems like people are listening. Jessica Valenti talking school thinking I think the biggest obstacle I still have to overcome is myself, and just kind of struggling every day with what to do with the work and where to go next. Jessica Valenti struggle overcoming thinking Stress from blogging keeps me up at night. Jessica Valenti blogging stress night Something I say a lot when it comes to anti-feminist stereotypes is that they exist for a reason. Jessica Valenti stereotype feminist reason Instead of focusing on men and focusing on what we can do to prop them up, people seem really incredibly focused on the fact that women are doing well and maybe that's not such a good thing. Jessica Valenti men facts people Small blogs are starting up big campaigns. Jessica Valenti starting-up campaigns bigs I think that the ideal of young womanhood as it's seen in pop culture specifically is a really kind of vapid, conceited, concerned with money and looks kind of thing that you'll see in a lot of reality shows. And I think that's really damaging, not just because it's a terrible role model to put forth, but that it also puts across this idea to the American public that this is what young women are like, that this is what all young women in America are like. Jessica Valenti conceited reality thinking I saw an article where the manager of the Pussycat Dolls, which is kind of this like striptease band, girl band, said, oh well, the girls are totally third-wave feminist. This is what third-wave feminism is about. Like you don't get to use that word. You don't get to say that something is feminist as a way to sell back sexism to women, as a way to further consumerist ideas. Jessica Valenti feminist girl ideas As much as I disagree with Sarah Palin, there's no denying that she was the victim of sexism. Jessica Valenti palin sexism victim People aren't comfortable thinking of women as people. Like we're not people, we're women, and that means something completely different, especially when you have power. Jessica Valenti mean people thinking I've been thinking a lot about Lady Gaga and what she means for feminism. I think - I find her completely fascinating, and I really like what she has to say. Jessica Valenti feminism mean thinking When it comes to people who are saying really extreme things online, we have the tendency to think that they are just kooks, or that you shouldn't pay attention to them, you shouldn't take them seriously. Jessica Valenti attention people thinking Because there's no accountability on line in the same way there is in real life, all of a sudden you can say like, yeah, I hate women; I want to kill women. And you can say that online, and not only will you find a place to say it, but you'll find a place to say it where people are like, yeah, me too. Jessica Valenti hate real people When I did get married, and specifically after I got married and the New York Times style section featured my wedding in the vows column, which is really traditionally kind of seen as an elitist column, and it is, but I was happy to be in it. I thought it was good that they were covering a feminist wedding. Jessica Valenti style feminist new-york What bothers me the most about the way that people appropriate feminist language is that they are the same people who are - you know, anti-feminists - they're the same people who say that feminism is ruining the family, yet when it behooves them to, they'll say Sara Palin's a feminist - when all of a sudden it works in their favor. Jessica Valenti feminism feminist people I think my biggest career mistake has been taking on too much. And I think this is kind of - I think it's related to the Internet world, where you're always multitasking and you have a million windows open and you feel like you can do a lot at the same time. Jessica Valenti careers mistake thinking People seem to think, because of the way that the media has appropriated third-wave feminism or young feminism, that all young feminists are about is like pole dancing and girls gone wild and how empowering it is. Like they'll start calling anything feminist. Jessica Valenti media girl thinking The truth is that we don't need everyone to like us; we need a few people to love us. Because what's better than being roundly liked is being fully known - an impossibility both professionally and personally if you're so busy being likable that you forget to be yourself. Jessica Valenti yourself you truth love A huge part of keeping women in their place has to do with creating a really limited definition of what a 'real' woman is like. And a ton of that what-makes-a-woman nonsense is attached to motherhood. Apparently, by virtue of having ovaries and a uterus, women are automatic mommies or mommies-to-be. Jessica Valenti woman place women motherhood
