When feminists said "a woman is a woman," they were rejecting the notion that womanhood implied inferiority. They were asserting that to be a woman was to be fully human, fully capable, and fully entitled to autonomy. They were not defining themselves in relation to men. "A woman is a woman" means she is her own reference point. She is not "the opposite of man" or "the fairer sex." She is just herself .
On the surface, it reads like a tautology—a logical loop that offers no new information, much like saying “a circle is round” or “water is wet.” It seems, at first glance, to be the ultimate statement of the obvious. However, in our current cultural landscape, this phrase has become a Rorschach test. Depending on who is speaking, who is listening, and the context in which it is uttered, “a woman is a woman” acts as a profound declaration of identity, a political boundary, a philosophical puzzle, or a celebration of autonomy.
Let us begin with the linguistic function. A tautology is a statement that is true by necessity. In a world seeking objective, irrefutable truths, “A woman is a woman” provides a sense of grounding. In an era where definitions are fluid and categories are deconstructed, there is a psychological comfort in the circular. a woman is a woman
Upon release, A Woman Is a Woman divided critics. Some found it charming, witty, and fresh; others (including François Truffaut, initially) dismissed it as lightweight and self-indulgent compared to Godard’s more politically charged later works. Over time, it has come to be seen as a crucial transitional film — the last of Godard’s “happy” films before his work became darker, more didactic, and formally radical (e.g., Vivre sa vie , Contempt ).
or competitive social dynamics among women. A write-up in this context might examine how societal pressures sometimes lead women to tear each other down rather than practicing "sisterhood," and advocate for a shift toward empowerment and mutual support 3. Discussions on Identity and Definition When feminists said "a woman is a woman,"
In recent years, "What is a woman?" has become a central question in debates regarding gender identity . A write-up here might focus on:
Regarded as Jean-Luc Godard’s most playful and accessible film, A Woman Is a Woman stands as a unique hybrid: a tribute to the Hollywood musical filtered through the irreverent, self-aware lens of the French New Wave. It was Godard’s third feature film and his first in color, earning star Anna Karina the Best Actress award at the Berlin International Film Festival. "A woman is a woman" means she is her own reference point
The story is deceptively simple. (Anna Karina), a young nightclub stripper, lives with her boyfriend Émile (Jean-Claude Brialy). Angela desperately wants to have a baby, but Émile refuses, finding the request inconvenient and premature. To make him jealous and force his hand, Angela flirts with Émile’s best friend, Alfred (Jean-Paul Belmondo), who is genuinely in love with her. Alfred is eager to give her the child she wants. The film follows a triangular romantic conflict that is resolved not through grand drama but through a series of playful, escalating arguments, games, and dares set in their small Parisian apartment and the surrounding streets. The resolution comes in a mock-tragic, comedic twist: Émile finally agrees to have a child with Angela, but only after she and Alfred have kissed — and the film famously ends with the couple deciding to try for a baby “like in the movies.”
A Woman is a Woman: The Unfolding Power of Modern Femininity