I want to empower women. I want people to be afraid of the women
The words of Alexander McQueen, “I want to empower women. I want people to be afraid of the women I dress,” are a cry of defiance and vision. He sought not merely to adorn women, but to transform them into living symbols of strength, command, and awe. His fashion was not fabric alone, but armor—woven with the intent to make women untouchable, unassailable, and sovereign in their presence.
In the ancient spirit, these words echo the power of the goddess and the warrior. To be afraid of women is not to despise them, but to respect their authority, to tremble before their strength, as men once trembled before Athena with her spear or Artemis with her bow. McQueen’s artistry sought to awaken this same reverence in the modern world, where women had too often been reduced to objects of desire rather than forces of destiny.
History offers us the image of Joan of Arc, a peasant girl clothed in armor, who led armies against oppressors and struck terror into the hearts of her enemies. She did not ask for permission; she embodied divine conviction. Like McQueen’s vision, her presence inverted expectation: a woman not fragile but formidable, not silent but commanding. Her very existence unsettled the order of her age, for she was living proof that women clothed in courage could alter the fate of nations.
McQueen’s words remind us that empowerment is not soft adornment, but transformation. To empower women is to reveal the latent fire within them, to shape the world’s gaze so that it cannot look upon them without awe. The dress, in his hands, became more than clothing—it became a statement of rebellion, of danger, of power. It turned the act of being seen into a weapon rather than a vulnerability.
So let this truth be carried forth: to clothe a woman in strength is to restore her rightful place as ruler of her own destiny. When the world learns to be afraid—not of her weakness, but of her unshakable power—then true empowerment has been achieved. McQueen’s words are thus both prophecy and command: let women stride forth as goddesses and warriors, and let the world tremble before their greatness.
NHnguyen huy
McQueen’s desire to empower women through fashion is both bold and provocative. He seems to be pushing the idea that women’s presence can be commanding, challenging traditional notions of passivity in femininity. However, is it possible to truly empower women through fear? Or does the idea of ‘fear’ reinforce old ideas of women needing to assert power over others rather than collaborating or inspiring?
VPVinh Phan
What I find striking in McQueen’s statement is the concept of empowerment through fashion. There’s something revolutionary about his assertion that clothes can give women strength and influence. But what does it mean to ‘make people afraid’? Is it a metaphor for breaking free from societal expectations, or does it suggest something more combative about how women should navigate the world?
BHBui Hoa
There’s a sense of liberation in McQueen’s quote. It’s as though he’s calling for women to reclaim their power through fashion, making a statement that their appearance should command attention and respect. But does the idea of people being 'afraid' of them imply that women must resort to intimidation to be taken seriously? Or is it more about creating a forceful presence?
VBVo Bui
Alexander McQueen’s quote is powerful in its boldness. It seems to challenge conventional views of femininity, suggesting that power can be conveyed through fashion and the way women present themselves. But does the idea of women being 'feared' through clothing perpetuate a stereotype of dominance that’s often tied to aggression? Or is it about confidence and control that transcends traditional beauty standards?