The storm and stress period of women and the new social and psychological formations thereby entailed must indeed extend far into the twentieth century. This period of conflict will cease only when woman within and out of marriage shall have received legal equality with man.

In this quote, Ellen Key addresses the "storm and stress period" experienced by women as they navigated the social and psychological challenges associated with evolving gender roles. She suggests that this period of conflict—marked by struggles for equality—would continue into the twentieth century. Key argues that true resolution of these struggles would only come when women achieved legal equality with men, both within the institution of marriage and in society at large.

The origin of this quote lies in Ellen Key's feminist philosophy and her advocacy for women’s rights. As a prominent Swedish writer and thinker in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Key believed that social and legal reforms were crucial for achieving gender equality. Her assertion reflects the broader feminist movement during her time, which was calling for changes in laws and social norms that oppressed women, particularly in terms of marriage and family life.

Key's mention of the "storm and stress" period refers to the emotional and social turmoil that women faced as they fought for personal freedom, education, and legal recognition. She believed that the conflict between traditional gender roles and the desire for women’s liberation would persist until women were granted equal legal rights. Her statement underscores the idea that women’s struggles were not just personal but deeply tied to the legal and institutional structures of society.

Ultimately, Key’s quote reflects her belief that legal equality for women was the key to ending the conflict and tension in gender relations. She saw the battle for women’s rights as a necessary evolution that would shape society in the twentieth century and beyond, asserting that true equality would only be achieved once women were legally equal to men in all spheres of life.