micah

At its most basic level, all of this emotional labour is saying to another human being “you matter. I will take my time to show you that you matter.” And maintaining that glue is something that devolves mainly onto women, 24 hours a day. It feels like most men are taught (ex- or implicitly) to do emotional work only when it gets them something they want now, whereas most women are taught to do emotional work as part of an ongoing exchange that benefits everyone.

Lacan strips bare masculinity for the cultural construction it is.. ..[Masculinity] can only exist narcissistically in relation to femininity.

The part in Frances where Frances says, “I look at these people and I wonder if anybody really loves anybody?”

Roland Barthes, A Lover’s Discourse

“Do you want me to tell you something really subversive? Love is everything it’s cracked up to be. That’s why people are so cynical about it… . It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for. And the trouble is, if you don’t risk anything, you risk even more.” -Erica Jong