70+ Women's Rights Quotes That All Budding Feminists Should Know

Women's rights are the rights of women and girls all around the world, that give them the freedom to live equally and express their opinions throughout their life.

There are many famous social activists, women rights activists and social workers who have given beautiful quotes about women's rights on the condition of women in society, both in the past and the present.

These rights are needed due to decades of gender inequality and discrimination that have affected women, and this is the issue that women's rights aim to combat.

Some famous campaigners for women's rights include Mary Shelley, Maya Angelou, G.D. Anderson, Gloria Steinem and Malala Yousafzai; the list is endless. Women's rights have plenty of great slogans, but a particularly powerful one is, "women's rights are human rights". This is a great short quote that encompasses everything that women's rights are about.

Here are some famous quotes on women's rights, including inspiring women's quotes and quotes about women's empowerment that will fill your heart with motivation and inspiration. If you like these inspiring quotes about women, check out these Women's History Month quotes and [empower women quotes] too.

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Inspirational Feminist Quotes

Many women's empowerment quotes have come from strong women themselves. For example, Hillary Clinton quotes on women's rights are hugely inspiring and, if we are looking for empowering quotes for women, how can we forget the young activist Malala Yousafzai.

Her book 'Malala: A Girl From Paradise' has numerous stunning and amazing quotes about women's power, quotes about empowerment for women and powerful quotes about women. She has always raised her voice for female education.

Mary Shelley is another prominent speaker, saying, "I do not wish women to have power over men, but over themselves," inspiring right? Here are more inspiring quotes by women, along with motivational quotes by women, just for you.

1. "I do not wish women to have power over men, but over themselves."

- Mary Shelley.

2. "A feminist is any woman who tells the truth about her life."

- Virginia Woolf.

3. "If society will not admit of women's free development, then society must be remodeled."

- Elizabeth Blackwell.

4. "Let men be compelled to wear our dress for a while and we should soon hear them advocating a change."

- Amelia Bloomer.

5. "Feminism is the radical notion that women are people."

- Marie Shear.

6. "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.

7. "Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women."

- Maya Angelou.

8. "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.

9. "I raise up my voice—not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard… We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back."

- Malala Yousafzai.

10. "I recognize no rights but human rights – I know nothing of men’s rights and women’s rights."

- Angelina Grimke.

11. "We need to reshape our own perception of how we view ourselves. We have to step up as women and take the lead."

- Beyoncé.

12. "To all the little girls who are watching this, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful, and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams."

- Hillary Clinton.

13. "I hate to hear you talking so like a fine gentleman, and as if women were all fine ladies, instead of rational creatures. We none of us expect to be in smooth water all our days."

- Jane Austen.

14. "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.

15. "I feel now that the time has come when even a woman or a child who can speak a word for freedom and humanity is bound to speak."

- Harriet Beecher Stowe.

16. "What is feminism? Simply the belief that women should be as free as men, however nuts, dim, deluded, badly dressed, fat, receding, lazy, and smug they might be. Are you a feminist? Of course, you are."

- Caitlin Moran.

17. "Feminism has never been about getting a job for one woman. It's about making life more fair for women everywhere. It's not about a piece of the existing pie; there are too many of us for that. It's about baking a new pie."

- Gloria Steinem.

18. "A feminist is anyone who recognizes the equality and full humanity of women and men."

- Gloria Steinem.

19. "When there are no ceilings, the sky's the limit. So let's keep going - let's keep going until every one of the 161 million women and girls across America has the opportunity she deserves to have."

- Hillary Clinton.

20. "There are two powers in the world; one is the sword and the other is the pen. There is great competition and rivalry between the two. There is a third power stronger than both, that of the women."

- Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

21. "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 a reason for anything. Ever."

- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

22. "Women belong in all places where decisions are being made... It shouldn't be that women are the exception."

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

23. "The emerging woman... will be strong-minded, strong-hearted, strong-souled, and strong-bodied... strength and beauty must go together."

- Louisa May Alcott.

24. "I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat."

- Rebecca West.

25. "The new century is coming. Young women should have a chance to make something of themselves. Heaven knows that most of the cooks in the great houses around the country are women. It's a natural art for us females."

- Rhys Bowen.

26. "Women have a much better time than men in this world; There are far more things forbidden to them."

- Oscar Wilde.

27. "Every women’s civil rights struggle around the world, in a democratic or totalitarian country, whether Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, or Jewish – is a struggle of all of ours."

- Bill Madden.

28. "Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women."

- Maya Angelou.

29. "Why is a woman to be treated differently? Woman suffrage will succeed, despite this miserable guerilla opposition."

- Victoria Claflin Woodhull.

30. "The new information technology, indifferent to human suffering, does not accommodate humane needs unless we harness it and make it do so."

- Mahnaz Afkhami.

31. "She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted. The history of progress for women, summed up in 11 words."

- Cecile Richards.

32. "Any nation that does not learn to place women on the same pedestal of respect and dignity as men, will never in a thousand years attain greatness."

- Abhijit Naskar.

33. "To be a woman is to observe others observing you. To be a feminist is to intentionally rewrite what you have observed."

- Marquita Burke-De Jesus.

34. "The representation of women in the society, especially through mass media has been the most delusional act ever done on the grounds of human existence."

- Abhijit Naskar.

35. "Women's liberation is the liberation of the feminine in the man and the masculine in the woman."

- Corita Kent.

36. "Our generation of women is clearing the path for our daughters, granddaughters, women, and girls down the line, to be safe to be the woman or girl they are."

- Tabby Biddle.

37. "'All feminists are suffragists, but not all suffragists are feminists,' as one feminist explained."

- Jill Lepore.

38. "A state that does not educate and train women is like a man who only trains his right arm."

- Jostein Gaarder.

39. "I demanded more rights for women because I know what women had to put up with."

- Evita Peron.

40. "The extremists are afraid of books and pens, the power of education frightens them. They are afraid of women."

- Malala Yousafzai.

41. "Whatever women do, they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult."

- Charlotte Whitton.

42. "A gender-equal society would be one where the word 'gender' does not exist: where everyone can be themselves."

- Gloria Steinem.

43. "Achieving gender equality requires the engagement of women and men, girls and boys. It is everyone's responsibility."

- Ban Ki-moon.

44. "I am a feminist. I’m proud to be a feminist."

- Justin Trudeau.

Powerful Quotes From Famous Women

Famous women including Hillary Clinton, Margaret Thatcher, Rihanna, Kamala Harris, Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey have offered heart-touching and unique feminist quotes, power-of-women quotes, empowered women quotes, and quotes on gender equality and human rights. These women-in-power quotes and inspirational quotes by women will light up your life with more power and influence.

Below is the list of such empowering quotes by women in power.

45. "Human rights are women's rights and women's rights are human rights. Let us not forget that among those rights are the right to speak freely — and the right to be heard."

- Hillary Clinton.

46. "There's something so special about a woman who dominates in a man's world. It takes a certain grace, strength, intelligence, fearlessness, and the nerve to never take no for an answer."

- Rihanna.

47. "If you want something said, ask a man; If you want something done, ask a woman."

- Margaret Thatcher.

48. "The more I have spoken about feminism the more I have realized that fighting for women's rights has too often become synonymous with man-hating. If there is one thing I know for certain, it is that this has to stop."

- Emma Watson.

49. "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.

50. "Women have discovered that they cannot rely on men's chivalry to give them justice."

- Helen Keller.

51. "If we do not lift up women and families, everyone will fall short."

- Kamala Harris.

53. "I'm not going to limit myself just because people won't accept the fact that I can do something else."

- Dolly Parton.

54. "Think like a queen. A queen if not afraid to fail. Failure is another stepping stone to greatness."

- Oprah Winfrey.

55. "When God created man and woman, he was thinking, 'Who shall I give the power to, to give birth to the next human being?' And God chose women. And this is the big evidence that women are powerful."

- Malala Yousafzai.

56. "Do not live someone else's life and someone else's idea of what womanhood is. Womanhood is you."

- Viola Davis.

57. "There's power in allowing yourself to be known and heard, in owning your unique story, in using your authentic voice."

- Michelle Obama.

58. "You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist."

- Indira Gandhi.

59. "The success of every woman should be the inspiration to another. We should raise each other up. Make sure you’re very courageous: Be strong, be extremely kind, and above all be humble."

- Serena Williams.

60. "Have no fear of perfection; You'll never reach it."

– Marie Curie.

Women's History Quotes

Some that women's rights focus on are gender inequality, gender based violence, unequal pay and inadequate female healthcare and education of young girls. There are many quotes on women and feminism quotes based on women's history. These women's motivational quotes talk about rights and women, and aim to inspire us all. Enjoy these feminist quotes!

61. "No woman can call herself free who does not own and control her own body."

- Margaret Sanger.

62. "I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own."

- Audre Lorde.

63. "A wise woman wishes to be no one’s enemy; a wise woman refuses to be anyone’s victim."

- Maya Angelou.

64. "A woman with a voice is, by definition, a strong woman."

- Melinda Gates.

65. "Where there is a woman there is magic."

- Ntozake Shange.

66. "I am an example of what is possible when girls from the very beginning of their lives are loved and nurtured by people around them. I was surrounded by extraordinary women in my life who taught me about quiet strength and dignity."

- Michelle Obama.

67. "The kindest words

my father said to me

women like you

drown oceans."

- Rupi Kaur.

68. "I may sometimes be willing to teach for nothing, but if paid at all, I shall never do a man’s work for less than a man’s pay."

- Clara Barton.

69. "Women will have achieved true equality when men share with them the responsibility of bringing up the next generation."

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

70. "There is no royal flower-strewn path to success. And if there is, I have not found it, for if I have accomplished anything in life it is because I have been willing to work hard."

- Madame C.J. Walker.

71. "I never doubted that equal rights was the right direction. Most reforms, most problems are complicated. But to me, there is nothing complicated about ordinary equality."

- Alice Paul.

72. "It is a fact that when you change a girl’s life, you affect her vision of herself and her immediate world and the world that she will have an impact on."

- Oprah Winfrey.

73. "The problem with gender is that it prescribes how we should be rather than recognizing how we are. Imagine how much happier we would be, how much freer to be our true individual selves, if we didn’t have the weight of gender expectations."

- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

74. "If it’s a good idea, go ahead and do it. It’s much easier to apologize than it is to get permission."

- Grace Hopper.

75. "As long as you keep a person down, some part of you has to be down there to hold him down, so it means you cannot soar as you otherwise might."

- Marian Anderson.

76. "Real men treat women with dignity and give them the respect they deserve."

- Prince Harry.

77. "Cautious, careful people, always casting about to preserve their reputation and social standing never can bring about a reform. Those who are really in earnest must be willing to be anything or nothing in the world's estimation."

- Susan B. Anthony.

78. "Women more than men can strip war of its glamour and its out-of-date heroisms and patriotisms, and see it as a demon of destruction and hideous wrong."

- Lillian Wald.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for women's rights quotes, then why not take a look at these women supporting women quotes or women in business quotes for more?

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