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Quick Quotes 26: Antiquote Mae West

“There are no good girls gone wrong - just bad girls found out.”
-- Mae West

Outdated quote that is frequently shared because it sounds vaguely racy. The quote can be taken multiple ways, but each way now lacks relevance. Does she mean that girls tend to be predestined towards being bad from the start? If so, that's unlikely and sexist without proof. Is she representing the unforgiving attitudes of the public towards good girls gone wrong? Perhaps, but  again, how is this different from attitude of the public regarding anyone?

The "baddest girls" are those who aren't afraid  to be themselves, who work towards what they want, not deceptive cowards who have to be "found out". We've evolved past  the repressive culture that was present when Mae West said this.  Move on...