What is important is that women face up to the reality of hteir historya nd of their present situation. Disadvantage may indeed be an excuse; it is not, however, an intllectual [osition. Rather, using their situation as undersdogs and otusiders as avantage oint, women can reveal institutuional and intelllectual wekanesses in general, and , at the same time that they destroy false consciousnesness, take part in the creation of institutions in which clear thought and true greatness are challenges opne to anyone - man or women - courageous enough to take the ncessary risk, the leap into the unknown.

Linda Nochlin, "Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?"