Women and Femininity Quotes in She's Come Undone

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #4

"You can be two things if you're a woman, Dolores. Betty Crocker or a floozy. Just remember your place—even if it kills you." (4.27)

This is quite the dichotomy. As we said before, Dolores is irritated by her Ma's new liberated woman act, so Dolores sees her mom firmly in the "floozy" category.

Quote #5

Something snapped, and, suddenly, there was Ruth's whole shoulder, her fat breast. (11.139)

Dolores isn't used to seeing women be so free, and especially not women who aren't her mother, i.e. women she doesn't hate. Ruth has no problem breastfeeding in public, and this free attitude helps Dolores warm up to her.

Quote #6

Sometimes I could figure out what Dr. Shaw was up to and deny him. That felt good: when had men with power over me every made my life better? (17.81)

Dolores starts to reverse the men = superior equation she's had her whole life, and, like most people do when they change their way of thinking, she's a little aggressive about it to begin with.