60 Quotes from Feminists That Will Make You Proud to Be a Woman

Throughout history, women have been in the midst of a battle against discrimination and inequality, they suffered from disgusting misconduct and have always been sidelined because of their gender.

And yet, they have continued to resist and fight for equality and fairness and for their voice to be heard whatever may be the risks.

Nothing can make a woman more proud than reading empowering, courageous and unapologetic words from inspirational and famous feminists who fought for the freedom that we know today. From Maya Angelou to Emma Watson, here are 60 quotes from famous feminists in history that will make you proud to be a woman.

Quotes That Will Make You Proud to Be a Woman

1. “We are the women our parents warned us against, and we are proud!” — Gloria Steinem

2. “I dress for the image. Not for myself, not for the public, not for fashion, not for men.” — Marlene Dietrich

3. “Women have to work much harder to make it in this world. It really pisses me off that women don’t get the same opportunities as men do or money for that matter. Because let’s face it, money gives men the power to run the show. It gives men the power to define our values and to define what’s sexy and what’s feminine and that’s bullshit. At the end of the day, it’s not about equal rights; it’s about how we think. We have to reshape our own perception of how we view ourselves.” — Beyoncé

4. “I’m tough, I’m ambitious, and I know exactly what I want. If that makes me a bitch, okay.” — Madonna

5. “Because gender has wrongly told us that some things are masculine and some things are feminine… which is bullshit.” — Gloria Steinem

6. “I didn’t want my future to be imprisoned in my four walls and just cooking and giving birth.” — Malala Yousafzai

7. “To all the girls that think you’re fat because you’re not a size zero, you’re the beautiful one, its society who’s ugly.” — Marilyn Monroe

8. “I don’t want other people to decide who I am. I want to decide that for myself.” — Emma Watson

9. “Women are always saying, ‘We can do anything that men can do.’ But men should be saying, ‘We can do anything that women can do.’” — Gloria Steinem

10. “Women are the largest untapped reservoir of talent in the world.” — Hillary Clinton

11. “A woman needs independence, not equality. In most cases, equality is a step-down.” — Coco Chanel

12. “When I’m hungry, I eat. When I’m thirsty, I drink. When I feel like saying something, I say it.” — Madonna

13. “I’ve been reckless, but I’m not a rebel without a cause.” — Angelina Jolie

14. “There was a time when women activists asked men to stand up for their rights. But this time we will do it by ourselves.” — Malala Yousafzai

15. “My message to women: Do what makes you feel good because there’ll always be someone who thinks you should do it differently. Whether your choices are hits or misses, at least they’re your own.” — Michelle Obama

16. “One isn’t born courageous, one becomes it.” — Marjane Satrapi

17. “Laws and traditions that hold back women, hold back entire societies.” — Hillary Clinton

18. “My mother always told me, ‘Hide your face, people are looking at you.’ I would reply, ‘It doesn’t matter; I am also looking at them.’” —Malala Yousafzai

19. “If one man can destroy everything, why can’t one girl change it?” — Malala Yousafzai

20. “I have chosen to no longer be apologetic for my femininity. And I want to be respected in all my femaleness. Because I deserve to be.” — Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

21. “I’m just being myself. There is not an ounce of me that believes any of that crap that they say. Can’t we be feminine and be feminists and be successful? I want to be a f—ing feminist and wear a f—ing Peter Pan collar. So f—ing what?” — Zooey Deschanel

22. “I don’t like to gamble, but if there is one thing I’m willing to bet on, it’s myself.” — Beyoncé

23. “We liked to be known as the clever girls. When we decorated our hands with henna for holidays and weddings, we drew calculus and chemical formulae instead of flowers and butterflies.” — Malala Yousafzai

24. “People say that you’re going the wrong way when it’s simply a way of your own.” — Angelina Jolie

25. “People laughed at the way I dressed, but that was the secret of my success. I didn’t look like anyone.” — Coco Chanel

26. “Every girl, no matter where she lives, deserves the opportunity to develop the promise inside of her.” — Michelle Obama

27. “You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I’ll rise!” — Maya Angelou

28. “Don’t let the bastards grind you down.” — Margaret Atwood

29. “It is your definition and it’s fine to be strong, it’s fine to stand tall, it’s fine to speak up for yourself, it’s fine to not stand in the back, it’s fine to challenge whatever status quo is laid out for you without fear of consequence even though that’s what’s been dictated to us in the past. I love it. To me, it’s standing up for yourself and not being afraid to speak up. I think it’s powerful.” — Uzo Aduba

30. “I am a woman with thoughts and questions and shit to say. I say if I’m beautiful. I say if I’m strong. You will not determine my story – I will.” — Amy Schumer

31. “A woman is often measured by the things she cannot control. She is measured by the way her body curves or doesn’t curve, by where she is flat or straight or round. She is measured by 36-24-36 and inches and ages and numbers, by all the outside things that don’t ever add up to who she is on the inside. And so if a woman is to be measured, let her be measured by the things she can control, by who she is and who she is trying to become. Because as every woman knows, measurements are only statistics… and STATISTICS LIE.” — Marilyn Monroe

32. “Of course I am not worried about intimidating men. The type of man who will be intimidated by me is exactly the type of man I have no interest in.” — Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

33. “Don’t think about making women fit the world— think about making the world fit women.” — Gloria Steinem

34. “I wanted to be an independent woman, a woman who could pay for her bills, a woman who could run her own life – and I became that woman.” — Diane von Furstenberg

35. “Women must tell men always that they are the strong ones. They are the big, the strong, the wonderful. In truth, women are the strong ones.” — Coco Chanel

36. “Women and girls can do whatever they want. There is no limit to what we as women can accomplish.” — Michelle Obama

37. “If I make a fool of myself, who cares? I’m not frightened by anyone’s perception of me.” — Angelina Jolie

38. “I put the definition of feminist in my song and on my tour, not for propaganda or to proclaim to the world that I’m a feminist, but to give clarity to the true meaning. I’m not really sure people know or understand what a feminist is, but it’s very simple. It’s someone who believes in equal rights for men and women.” — Beyoncé

39. “A woman is a drunk, a whore, whereas the guy’s like a partyer, a player. I’ve been around both women who drink too much and guys who drink too much and it’s just as ugly on the guys. It makes me crazy. I don’t think that women should be seen as any less sexual than a guy.” — Emily Blunt

40. “A woman is like a tea bag – you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

41. “If you’re going to rave about how sexy a male artist looks with his shirt off, and a woman decides to get in her panties or show her boobies for a photo shoot, she needs to be treated with the same awe and admiration. I will say it until I’m an old-ass lady with my tits out at Whole Foods. I’ll be in the produce aisle, naked at 95, with a sensible ponytail, one strand of hair left on my head and a Chanel bow.”— Ariana Grande

42. “Human rights are women’s rights and women’s rights are human rights, once and for all.” — Hillary Clinton

43. “I am tired of living in a world where women are mostly referred to as a man’s past, present or future property/possession. I do not belong to anyone but myself and neither do you.” — Ariana Grande

44. “If women are supposed to be less rational and more emotional at the beginning of our menstrual cycle when the female hormone is at its lowest level, then why isn’t it logical to say that, in those few days, women behave the most like the way men behave all month long?” — Gloria Steinem

45. “Women have always been the strong ones of the world. The men are always seeking from women a little pillow to put their heads down on. They are always longing for the mother who held them as infants.” — Coco Chanel

46. “There is a global epidemic of violence against women — both within conflict zones and within societies at peace — and it is still treated as a lesser crime and lower priority. We need policies for long-term security that are designed by women, focused on women, executed by women — not at the expense of men, or instead of men, but alongside and with men.” — Angelina Jolie

47. “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

48. “I’m going to do what I want to do. I’m going to be who I really am. I’m going to figure out what that is.” — Emma Watson

49. “There is no greater pillar of stability than a strong, free and educated woman. And there is no more inspiring role model than a man who respects and cherishes women and champions their leadership.” — Angelina Jolie

50. “Yes, I am a feminist, and whoever isn’t, is crazy. It’s about owning your power, embracing your womanhood.” — Alicia Keys

51. “Women are brainwashed into feeling like we have to be skinny, or sexy, or desirable, or perfect. One of the many things I was tired of was the constant judgment of women.” — Alicia Keys

52. “When women and girls rise, their communities and their countries rise with them.” — Michelle Obama

53. “I love having every right to be as outspoken as I am, as any man would be.” — Chrissy Teigen

54. “All I can do is follow my instincts, because I’ll never please everyone.” — Emma Watson

55. “I’m over trying to find the ‘adorable’ way to state my opinion and still be likable! F— that. I don’t think I’ve ever worked for a man in charge who spent time contemplating what angle he should use to have his voice heard. It’s just heard.” — Jennifer Lawrence

56. “I’ve always been fascinated about how much more well-behaved we have to be than men. I did get a moniker of being a ‘diva,’ which I never felt I deserved — which I don’t deserve. I’ve always been a hard worker, always on time, always professional.” — Jennifer Lopez

57. “Feminism always gets associated with being a radical movement — good. It should be.” — Ellen Page

58. “I find the whole concept of being ‘SEXY’ embarrassing and confusing. If I do an interview with photographs people desperately want to change me – dye my hair blonder, pluck my eyebrows. Then there’s the choice of clothes. I know everyone wants a picture of me in a mini skirt, BUT THAT’S NOT ME. I feel uncomfortable. I’d never go out in a mini skirt. Personally, I don’t actually think it’s even that sexy. What’s sexy about saying, ‘I’m here with my boobs out and a short skirt, have a look at everything I’ve got?’ My idea of sexy is that less is more. The LESS you reveal the MORE people can wonder.” — Emma Watson

59. “It isn’t saying this is wrong and this is right. It’s having the power to do whatever the f— you want. It’s about having your own beliefs and staying true to them.” — Chrissy Teigen

60. “Women don’t take enough risks. Men are just ‘foot on the gas pedal.’ We’re not going to close the achievement gap until we close the ambition gap.” — Sheryl Sandberg

Final Thoughts

Women, whatever names they are called or however they are seen by this society, are the strongest creatures on this planet and nothing can change that.

Always remember that being a woman is never something to apologize for. I hope these quotes will ignite a spark in every woman’s heart and make them proud of their gender and lift their heads up high.