Moxie Quotes

“... it occurs to me that this is what it means to be a feminist. Not a humanist or an equalist or whatever. But a feminist. It’s not a bad word. After today it might be my favorite word. Because really all it is is girls supporting each other and wanting to be treated like human beings in a world that’s always finding ways to tell them they’re not.”
― Jennifer Mathieu, Moxie

“Making girls monitor their behavior and their appearance because boys are supposedly unable to control themselves? That is one of the oldest fucking tricks in the book.”
― Jennifer Mathieu, Moxie

“It said girls are a revolutionary soul force that can change the world for real.”
― Jennifer Mathieu, Moxie

“It’s just contributing to the narrative that girls have to monitor their bodies and behaviors, and boys have the license and freedom to act like animals. Don’t you think that’s unfair to girls? Don’t you think that’s shortchanging boys? The whole thing is just toxic.”
― Jennifer Mathieu, Moxie

“I'm frustrated with him, but I'm also frustrated with myself. That I can't find the words to explain it to him. I'm totally sure he's not doing it on purpose, but Seth is a guy, and he can't ever know what it feels like to walk down a hallway and know that you're getting judged for the size of your ass or how big your boobs are. He'll never understand what it's like to second guess everything you wear and how you sit and walk and stand in case it doesn't attract the right kind of attention, or worse, attracts the wrong kind. He'll never get how scary and crazy-making it is to feel like you belong to some big Boy Monster that decides it can grab you and touch you and rank you whenever and however it wants.”
― Jennifer Mathieu, Moxie

“Audre Lorde quote on them. YOUR SILENCE WILL NOT PROTECT YOU.”
― Jennifer Mathieu, Moxie

“This is what it means to be a feminist. Not a humanist or an equalist or whatever. But a feminist. It's not a bad word. After today it might be my favorite word. Because really all it is is girls supporting each other and wanting to be treated like human beings in a world that's always finding ways to tell them they're not.”
― Jennifer Mathieu, Moxie

“It’s ridiculous. Why should girls be responsible for what boys think and do? Like the boys aren’t able to control themselves?”
― Jennifer Mathieu, Moxie

“It’s like I’m living in a feminist fantasy,” Lucy says. “But it can’t be a complete fantasy because Roxane Gay isn’t here.”
― Jennifer Mathieu, Moxie

“Because I believe with my wholeheartmindbody that girls constitute a revolutionary soul force that can, and will, change the world for real.”
― Jennifer Mathieu, Moxie

“And you telling me not all guys are like that doesn’t really help me feel better. Because some guys are like that. A lot of them, actually.”
― Jennifer Mathieu, Moxie

“It felt like a way to fight back, but quietly. The only way I know how to.”
― Jennifer Mathieu, Moxie

“Wow, so he votes Republican and he tends to sexist Neanderthals on the side. Sounds like a real winner.”
― Jennifer Mathieu, Moxie

“for my twelfth-grade Current Topics teacher for calling me a feminazi in front of the entire class. You insulted me, but you also sparked my interest in feminism, so really, the joke is on you. Revenge is best served cold, you jerk. CHAPTER ONE”
― Jennifer Mathieu, Moxie

“Some girls are dancing in the corners, moving their bodies with the freedom that comes when no boy is watching you.”
― Jennifer Mathieu, Moxie

“Ladies and Gentlemen of East Rockport, I'd like to accept this Not-A-Dick Award on behalf of all the guys out there who recognize it's gross as hell to do the bump 'n' grab. I'd like to thank my mother for raising me with the knowledge that she she would disown me if I ever did something like that, and I'd like to thank my dad for backing her up.”
― Jennifer Mathieu, Moxie

“I take a deep breath. How can I make him get it? He doesn’t understand that Moxie isn’t—wasn’t—just a fun thing I did to be cool or different like his old hipster friends in Austin. I sincerely wanted to change East Rockport High School. Maybe I was naïve to think I could, but deep down I believed it might happen.”
― Jennifer Mathieu, Moxie

“It said girls are a revolutionary soul force that can change the world for real. My chest feels heavy with something that feels scary and good at the same time.”
― Jennifer Mathieu, Moxie

“As I head inside, I get smacked with the scent of industrial cleanser mixed with Axe body spray. I hear the shouts of voices—mostly boys’ voices because nice girls don’t shout—and catch words like March Madness and dumb bitch and she’s so hot.”
― Jennifer Mathieu, Moxie

“I miss finding a way to fight back against all the bullshit in this school. And you telling me not all guys are like that doesn’t really help me feel better. Because some guys are like that. A lot of them, actually.”
― Jennifer Mathieu, Moxie

“At my old school I was vice president of this club called GRIT,” Lucy tells us. “It stood for Girls Respecting and Inspiring Themselves. It was, like, a feminist club.”
― Jennifer Mathieu, Moxie

“Our voices are so loud. So big. So much. So beautiful.”
― Jennifer Mathieu, Moxie

“Las mujeres constituyen una fuerza revolucionaria que puede cambiar en verdad el mundo.”
― Jennifer Mathieu, Moxie

“As much as I love her, I know she wouldn’t get it. Meemaw and Grandpa see the world one way. You go to church on Sunday, you don’t wear white after Labor Day, and you always say “Merry Christmas,” not “Happy Holidays.”
― Jennifer Mathieu, Moxie

“I’m frustrated with him, but I’m also frustrated with myself. That I can’t find the words to explain it to him. I’m totally sure he’s not doing it on purpose, but Seth is a guy, and he can’t ever know what it feels like to walk down a hallway and know that you’re getting judged for the size of your ass or how big your boobs are. He’ll never understand what it’s like to second guess everything you wear and how you sit and walk and stand in case it doesn’t attract the right kind of attention, or worse, attracts the wrong kind. He’ll never get how scary and crazy-making it is to feel like you belong to some big Boy Monster that decides it can grab you and touch you and rank you whenever and however it wants.”
― Jennifer Mathieu, Moxie

“Maybe some things are worth getting in trouble over”
― Jennifer Mathieu, Moxie

“Feminista. No es mala palabra. Después de hoy, quizás sea mi palabra favorita. Porque en realidad, no es más que mujeres que se apoyan entre sí y quieren que las traten como seres humanos en un mundo que siempre encuentra alguna manera de decirles que no lo son.”
― Jennifer Mathieu, Moxie

“I spot Mitchell Wilson and his fellow apes hanging out like every other day. Their loud boy voices, laced with Mountain Dew and the knowledge that the world belongs to them, ring through the halls, echoing off the walls, making my skin crawl.”
― Jennifer Mathieu, Moxie

“I don’t know if you could really get it,” I say, sighing. “Not until someone plays the bump ’n’ grab game with you.”

“You can always play the bump ’n’ grab game with me, if that helps,” Seth says, and the tiny part of me that wishes he wouldn’t make a joke of it disappears as soon as we press our lips together.”
― Jennifer Mathieu, Moxie

“Mitchell,” she says, her voice clear and cutting. “Fuck you.”
― Jennifer Mathieu, Moxie