Women and Femininity Quotes in Outlander

Claire reads this lascivious look from Jack Randall as creepy, which it is, but that's beside the point. The main reason he's looking at her with such fascination is that she's dressed unlike any other woman of the times. Most women in this time period wear drab clothing that is much thicker and covers up much more.

The men in the 18th century definitely believe that women should be seen and not heard. It's really difficult for them to shut up and let Claire do her job, even when they know she is right. She's at a distinct disadvantage at this time, simply for being female.

Almost all the legends Claire hears of people getting swept away through fairy circles have to deal with lost women. Why is it only women who are lost? Is it because they are the only ones capable of taking care of another in a different time period? How would this story be different if Claire were male?

Alec might be a traditional Scotsman, but he recognizes that not all women are wilting flowers who need to be taken care of. He sees Claire as a woman, and that means she has agency, power, and the ability to take care of herself and others. This is what Jamie needs.

Just being a woman puts you in danger in this time period. Men can't seem to control their sexual urges at all, especially when drunk. We get the feeling that if anyone did attack Claire on this night, he might not be punished at all.

Dougal isn't exactly progressive for a man of his time, and all the men are resistant about teaching Claire to use a gun. However, there's some irony in this statement given that Dougal's mistress, Geillis Duncan, does use poison later on to kill her own husband. Dougal must be so proud.

Claire has officially gone from 20th-century woman to 18th-century woman with this statement. She has realized that she is living in a different time, one in which a woman does need a man to protect her. It's understandably pretty hard for her to admit.

Jenny thinks men want to have sex sometimes because they want to be back in the womb. Whether or not this is true, it is apparent that Claire serves as kind of a mother figure to Jamie. She takes care of his wounds, tells him to stay out of trouble, and loves him even when he does something boneheaded and hurts himself.

Here Jenny describes what to expect when you're expecting. These feelings never change, no matter what century a woman is living in, and Claire is curious, mainly because she fears she will never know what it's like to be pregnant.

Claire is able to sneak into Wentworth Prison because she is a woman—the male soldiers do not suspect a fragile young female thing such as her at all. This is a good example of Claire using her perceived weakness (i.e. her gender) to her advantage.