No woman is really an insider in the institutions fathered by masculine consciousness. When we allow ourselves to believe we are, we lose touch with parts of ourselves defined as unacceptable by that consciousness; with the vital toughness and visionary strength of the angry grandmothers, the fierce market women of the Ibo's Women's War, the marriage-resisting women silk workers of pre-Revolutionary China, the millions of widows, midwives, and the women healers tortured and burned as witches for three centuries in Europe.

Summary

This quote suggests that women, despite their participation in institutions and systems created by a male-dominated society, ultimately do not fully belong or have equal representation within them. By embracing the notion that they are insiders, women disconnect from certain aspects of themselves that are deemed unacceptable by this masculine consciousness. The quote highlights the strength and resilience of women throughout history who resisted societal norms and fought against oppression, citing examples such as the angry grandmothers, market women, silk workers, widows, midwives, and persecuted healers. Ultimately, the quote emphasizes the need for recognizing and honoring the marginalized and forgotten contributions of women throughout history.

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