There was a time when the western world required feminism, this time has long gone. Nowadays, though this is something that someone can come out with if they are not a feminist, this is not always the case. There are a number of feminists who have this viewpoint, this is going to cause them to be criticized, and even verbally abused, by the feminists that don’t. These feminist quotes are empowering and enlightening. Read these quotes and feel inspired.

35 Enlightening Feminist Quotes
- “The history of men’s opposition to women’s emancipation is more interesting perhaps than the story of that emancipation itself.” Virginia Woolf
- “Women have been trained to ask for what we want instead of taking it. We’ve been indoctrinated in a culture of permission. But time has passed.” Anu Duvernay
- “A woman with a voice is, by definition, a strong woman.” Melinda Gates
- “I would like to be known as an intelligent woman, a courageous woman, a loving woman, a woman who teaches by being.” Maya Angelou
- “Do not live someone else’s life and someone else’s idea of what womanhood is. Womanhood is you.” Viola Davis
- “If it doesn’t scare you, you’re probably not dreaming big enough.” Tory Burch
- “Feminism is not a dirty word. It does not mean you hate men, it does not mean you hate girls that have nice legs and a tan, and it does not mean you are a ‘bitch’ or ‘dyke’; it means you believe in equality.” Ani DiFranco
- “The emerging woman … will be strong-minded, strong-hearted, strong-souled, and strong-bodied … strength and beauty must go together.” Louisa May Alcott
- “Why do people say, ‘Grow some balls’? Balls are weak and sensitive. If you wanna be tough, grow a vagina. Those things can take a pounding.” Sheng Wang
- “There’s no way to tell others they can win but by living your dreams.” Gina Rodriguez
- “Women are the real architects of society.” Harriet Beecher Stowe
- “Feminism is the radical notion that women are human beings.” Cheris Kramarae
- “I don’t know if I’m a feminist, but I just know that I am all for outspoken, powerful women.” Mac Miller
- “Power is not given to you. You have to take it.” Beyonce
- “Feminism is for everybody.” Bell Hooks
- “My politics are private, but many of my feminist politics cross over into my professional life.” Frances McDormand
- “A feminist is a person who believes in the power of women just as much as they believe in the power of anyone else. It’s equality, it’s fairness, and I think it’s a great thing to be a part of.” Zendaya
- “Believe that there are no limitations, no barriers to your success – you will be empowered and you will achieve.” Ursula Burns
- “They cannot stand that a refugee, a black woman, an immigrant, a Muslim, shows up in Congress thinking she’s equal to them. But I say to them, ‘How else did you expect me to show up?” Ilhan Omar
- “Women who lead, read.” Laura Bates
- “I’m tough, ambitious, and I know exactly what I want. If that makes me a bitch, okay.” Madonna
- “My mother told me to be a lady. And for her, that meant to be your own person, be independent.” Ruth Bader Ginsburg
- “In the future, there will be no female leaders. There will just be leaders.” Sheryl Sandberg
- “You deserve to be here. You deserve to exist. You deserve to take up space in this world of men.” MacKenzi Lee
- “It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent.” Madeleine Albright
- “Life is not a competition between men and woman. It is a collaboration.” David Alejandro Fearnhead
- “My first marriage was ruined by feminist indoctrination.” Mike Vernovich
- “I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat.” Rebecca West
- “No woman should be told she can’t make decisions about her own body. When women’s rights are under attack, we fight back.” Kamala Harris
- “Feminism isn’t about making women stronger. Women are already strong, it’s about changing the way the world perceives that strength.” G.D. Anderson
- “Perfect is overrated. Perfect is boring.” Tina Fey
- “If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.” Margaret Thatcher
- “The only thing required to be a woman is to identify as one. Period. End of story.” Amanda Lovelace
- “Human rights are women’s rights and women’s rights are human rights, once and for all.” Hillary Clinton
- “The Victorian woman became her ovaries, as today’s woman has become her ‘beauty‘.” Naomi Wolf