Feminism and femininity are not mutually exclusive. It is misogynistic to suggest that they are. Sadly, women have learned to be ashamed and apologetic about pursuits that are seen as traditionally female, such as fashion and makeup. But our society does not expect men to feel ashamed of pursuits considered generally male - sports cars, certain professional sports. In the same way, men's grooming is never suspect in the way women's grooming is - a well-dressed man does not worry that, because he is dressed well, certain assumptions might be made about his intelligence, his ability, or his seriousness. A woman, on the other hand, is always aware of how a bright lipstick or a carefully-put-together outfit might very well make others assume her to be frivolous. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
About This Quote

It is unfair to say that feminism and femininity are mutually exclusive. Feminism and femininity are not mutually exclusive. They are not mutually exclusive because there are qualities in both men and women. If we define femininity as ‘being a woman’, then feminism would be defined as ‘being a man’.

The truth is that a woman can be a feminist and a man can be a feminist. The key to being a feminist is to take advantage of the opportunities that society gives you instead of looking for excuses to justify your way of thinking.

Source: Dear Ijeawele, Or A Feminist Manifesto In Fifteen Suggestions

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More Quotes By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
  1. Teach her that the idea of 'gender roles' is absolute nonsense. Do not ever tell her that she should or should not do something because she is a girl. 'Because you are a girl' is never reason for anything. Ever.
  2. Dear Non-American Black, when you make the choice to come to America, you become black. Stop arguing. Stop saying I'm Jamaican or I'm Ghanaian. America doesn't care.
  3. The truth has become an insult.
  4. The educated ones leave, the ones with the potential to right the wrongs. They leave the weak behind. The tyrants continue to reign because the weak cannot resist. Do you not see that it is a cycle? Who will break that cycle?
  5. You must never behave as if your life belongs to a man. Do you hear me?” Aunty Ifeka said. “Your life belongs to you and you alone.
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