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    1. Culture

    16 Epic Gloria Steinem Quotes That Make Us Want To Be Better Women

    Gloria Steinem, the feminist author and activist, is the icon of the moment. So let's celebrate with some of her most epic quotes. What. A. Woman.

    By Suzannah Ramsdale
    Published 16 November 2015 In Features

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Gloria Steinem
    Gloria Steinem
    (Image credit: Rex)
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    Gloria Steinem, the feminist author and activist, is the icon of the moment. So let's celebrate with some of her most epic quotes. What. A. Woman.

    '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.'

    'I have yet to hear a man ask for advice on how to combine marriage and a career.'

    (Image credit: BFAnyc.com/REX/Shutterstock)

    'Far too many people are looking for the right person, instead of trying to be the right person.'

    'When you attempt something new, there is always fear. A couple of

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    helpful slogans for me have been these: 'Follow the fear' and 'Fear is a

    sign of growth'.

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    (Image credit: REX/Shutterstock)

    'Someone said once that not everyone with vocal chords is an opera

    singer. And not everyone with a womb needs to be a mother... When The

    Pill came along we were able to give birth - to ourselves.'

    What to read next
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    'A liberated woman is one who has sex before marriage and a job after.'

    Gloria Steinem

    Gloria Steinem
    (Image credit: Rex)

    'A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle.'

    'Women are not going to be equal outside the home until men are equal in it.'

    Gloria Steinem

    Gloria Steinem
    (Image credit: Rex)

    'We are still identified by our looks instead of our hearts or heads. That’s why it’s so much better to break the rules. If the rules worked, we’d be able to see it. If women were able to sleep to the top, there would be many more women at the top.'

    'For women… bras, panties, bathing suits, and other stereotypical gear are visual reminders of a commercial, idealized feminine image that our real and diverse female bodies can’t possibly fit. Without these visual references, each individual woman’s body demands to be accepted on its own terms. We stop being comparatives. We begin to be unique.'

    'There are really not many jobs that actually require a penis or a vagina, and all other occupations should be open to everyone.'

    'Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.'

    Gloria Steinem

    Gloria Steinem
    (Image credit: Rex)

    'I've yet to be on a campus where most women weren't worrying about some aspect of combining marriage, children, and a career. I've yet to find one where many men were worrying about the same thing.'

    Gloria Steinem

    Gloria Steinem
    (Image credit: Rex)

    'So whatever you want to do, just do it... Making a damn fool of yourself is absolutely essential.'

    Gloria Steinem

    Gloria Steinem
    (Image credit: Rex)

    'Power can be taken, but not given. The process of the taking is empowerment in itself.'

    Gloria Steinem

    Gloria Steinem
    (Image credit: Rex)

    'A woman who aspires to be something is called a bitch.'

    Here are 31 other empowering quotes from other women who kick ass...

    Suzannah Ramsdale
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