Man is jealous because of his amour propre; woman is jealous because of her lack of it.

The quote “Man is jealous because of his amour propre; woman is jealous because of her lack of it.” by Germaine Greer offers a sharp commentary on the different ways jealousy manifests between the sexes. Here, amour propre (a French term meaning self-love or pride) is presented as the root of male jealousy, while female jealousy, according to Greer, comes from an absence of self-assurance. In this sense, men may feel jealous when their ego or pride is threatened, whereas women may experience jealousy due to insecurity or lack of self-worth.

The origin of the quote can be traced to Germaine Greer (1939–2024), an Australian-born writer, academic, and one of the most influential voices of second-wave feminism. Greer is best known for her groundbreaking book The Female Eunuch (1970), in which she challenged traditional gender roles and explored issues of sexuality, identity, and power dynamics. Her works often highlight the psychological and cultural forces that shape relationships between men and women, and this quote reflects her critical perspective on how patriarchal structures influence emotional experiences such as jealousy.

The deeper meaning lies in the contrast between male pride and female insecurity. Greer points out that men, conditioned to see themselves as powerful and entitled, interpret threats to their status or partner’s fidelity as assaults on their ego. Women, on the other hand, often raised in societies that undervalue them, may internalize low self-esteem, leading to jealousy not from pride but from fear of inadequacy or loss. The statement thus critiques how gender roles and social conditioning shape emotional vulnerabilities differently for men and women.

Ultimately, Greer’s observation pushes readers to reflect on how jealousy is not merely an individual emotion but one deeply tied to cultural expectations and gendered identities. By dissecting its roots, she exposes the inequalities embedded in emotional experiences and calls for greater self-awareness and empowerment, especially for women, in breaking free from the insecurities imposed by societal norms.