Behind every great man there's a great womanWhat's the meaning of the phrase 'Behind every great man there's a great woman'?'Behind every great man there's a great woman' has a straightforward literal meaning. The implication behind the saying is that the great woman is often ignored or taken for granted. Show
Origin - the short version'Behind every great man there's a great woman' was adopted as a slogan for the 1960/70s feminist movement, first having been used in the 1940s. Origin - the full storyThe first printed citation I can find of 'Behind every great man there's a great woman' is from the Texas newspaper The Port Arthur News, from February 1946. This was headed - "Meryll Frost - 'Most courageous athlete of 1945'":
The use of the phrase in that quotation suggests it was well-known at the time, and may be much older than 1945. Times change and by the 1980s women no longer wanted to be standing behind, whether deemed great or not. The use of the phrase received a boost in 1985 with the release of The Eurythmics' song - Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves, but with a different emphasis from the earlier slogan:
It's not likely that Aretha Franklin and Annie Lennox would have had much time for the opinions of the 18th century British statesman Lord George Lyttelton, in his poem Advice the a Lady, 1773:
See also: the List of Proverbs. Meaning of “Behind Every Great Man There Is A Great Woman”This proverb “Behind every great man is a great woman” has literal meanings. It means that a woman has been playing a significant role when a man has succeeded. The phrase applies to every woman who may not have received the credit for their work at first. However, the man who might be the woman’s son, brother, husband, or even a father has acknowledged her part or sacrifice for him. She is also as great as the man. In simple terms, a great woman brings forward a great man. Origin of “Behind Every Great Man There Is A Great Woman”The proverb “Behind every great man there is a great woman” has become popular during the 60s and 70s in the United States after the femininity emerged as a movement in literature and social sciences. It was first used by a newspaper, The Port Arthur News, in its publication of February 1946 in a report on sports. “As he received his trophy, the plucky quarterback unfolded the story of how he ‘came back’. He said, ‘They say behind every great man there’s a woman. While I’m not a great man, there’s a great woman behind me.” Examples in LiteratureExample #1Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves by Eurythmics
The proverb is used in the last line of the first stanza. The singer recalls what people used to say. According to them, a woman has always been behind a great man. Rather a woman has caused the greatness of the man. However, as now the women are becoming independent, it means they are going to do those great tasks themselves. In other words, according to the singer, the old proverb is truer in modern times. Example #2Behind Every Good Man, There’s A Woman by Vernon Oxford
The proverb is repeated a few times in the song. Although the singer adopts a unique approach, he addresses these lyrics to fellow men. He acknowledges and gives credit to his wife for all his success. Indirectly, he encourages men to respect, love, and listen to their wives. He also adds that a few men may not believe in his claims. Example #3Behind Every Great Man: The Forgotten Women Behind the World’s Famous and Infamous by Marlene Wagman-Geller This is an excellent read by Marlene Wagman-Geller about the world’s popular women who have ruled the world of men. These range from Mrs. Oscar Wilde to Carolyn Adams to prove that whenever there is a legend, there is always an unknown mark of femininity behind them. In fact, some of these women have charted a new course of history through the impacts they had had on their mend. The proverb proves true in the case of these men that ‘behind every great man there is a great woman’. Example #4American Proverbs About Women: A Reference Guide by Lois Kerschen
In the above paragraph, the author has arranged the proverbs and explained their subtler meanings in her own crispy language. The author argues that it does not mean that women should lead their men by standing beside them. It means that they can help them without pushing them too much. Perhaps, the author is not pleased with the message or the meaning of the proverb, which asks women to be a silent helper, instead of being an in-charge. Examples in SentencesExample #1: “Wendy always stayed up when her son was preparing for the SATs. During a family dinner, he said, ‘behind every great man there is a great woman, so I am thankful to my mom for staying up and encouraging me not to give up.” Example #2: “If you support a man who achieved success after your help, the phrase behind every great man there is a great woman comes true. But he fails; he will blame you for all the failures too.” Example #3: “He has proved it through experience that behind every great man there is a great woman. It is because he has now become the president of the tribe.” Example #4: “I don’t want to follow the rule that behind every great man, there is always a great woman. If I need something, I’ll go get it done myself, and the man has to do the same.” Example #5: “Behind every great man, there was always a great woman who stayed supportive and positive. Sadly, no one acknowledges the role women played in the old society.”
Who said behind every successful man is?Groucho Marx Quotes
Behind every successful man is a woman, behind her is his wife.
What is the saying behind every good man is a good woman?'Behind every great man there's a great woman' has a straightforward literal meaning. The implication behind the saying is that the great woman is often ignored or taken for granted.
What is behind every successful woman?“Behind every successful woman is a tribe of other successful women, who have her back.” - Gladstone News.
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