Mother Jones: Capitalist Ladies

Posted by admin on Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Mother Jones (aka Mary Harris) Money Quote saying that capitalists look for ways to distract and entertain women, rather than wanting them to be themselves. Mother Jones (aka Mary Harris) said:
 

 

“A lady is the last thing on earth I want to be. Capitalists sidetrack the women into clubs and make ladies of them” — Mother Jones

 

 

In this quote, Mother Jones is criticizing how some women’s energies and activism are being redirected away from meaningful goals. She states that she has no desire to be a “lady”, which in her time implied conforming to socially restrictive gender norms.

Jones suggests capitalists, meaning business elites, encourage women to join clubs as a way to make them “ladies” focused on superficial matters rather than substantive issues. She implies the clubs exist to sidetrack women’s interests and channel their efforts into inconsequential activities rather than social causes.

Overall, Mother Jones is expressing disdain that some women are being turned into complacent “ladies” by the capitalist system to prevent them from using their talents and passions for reform efforts against the status quo.