Women absolutely deserve respect.

Hear, O sons and daughters of every land, the thunderous yet tender voice of Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, who proclaimed with unshakable certainty: “Women absolutely deserve respect.” These words, though short, carry the weight of centuries, a chorus of countless unheard voices rising through history. They are not the cry of one woman alone, but the anthem of mothers, daughters, sisters, and workers who have long demanded recognition of their dignity.

The origin of this saying rests not only in Franklin’s artistry, but in the deeper struggle of her people and her gender. Born in an age when women, and particularly women of color, were denied equal footing in society, Franklin gave voice to their worth through song, most famously in her immortal anthem “Respect.” What had been a personal plea became a universal declaration. With each note she sang, she reminded the world that to deny respect to women was to deny justice itself.

To say that women deserve respect is to challenge the ancient chains that confined them. For too long, women were measured only by their service to men, their labor unseen, their voices silenced. Franklin’s words shattered that silence, turning respect into a demand rather than a request. It was a rallying cry that echoed in boardrooms, schools, kitchens, and streets. It reminded the world that women are not ornaments, not property, not shadows of men, but full human beings whose contributions must be honored.

History bears witness to this truth. Think of Sojourner Truth, who in 1851 stood before a crowd and thundered, “Ain’t I a woman?” Her speech pierced through prejudice, reminding the world that women of all races carry the same worth. Think of Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who labored for decades to secure women’s right to vote in the United States. Think, too, of women across every land, who nursed the wounded, tilled the fields, wrote the books, and raised generations—all without the recognition they so richly deserved. In each story, Franklin’s words resound: respect is not optional; it is owed.

The deeper meaning of Franklin’s statement is not confined to gender alone. It is a call to recognize the sacred dignity of every human being. But her emphasis on women reminds us that those who have been most denied must be most defended. Respect is not mere politeness; it is the foundation of justice. Without it, equality cannot stand, and without equality, no society can claim to be whole.

Let us draw the lesson plainly: if respect is owed, then our duty is to show it in deed, not just in word. It is not enough to sing the song, or cheer the message; we must practice it daily. Respect women in the workplace, in the home, in leadership, in art, in science, in faith. Listen when they speak. Honor their choices. Protect their dignity. Celebrate their achievements. This is how Franklin’s words become not only truth, but reality.

Therefore, O listeners, let your practice be this: carry Aretha’s call like a banner. Teach your children that respect for women is as natural as breath. Challenge injustice wherever women are dismissed, belittled, or silenced. For when women are respected, families are stronger, nations are wiser, and humanity itself moves closer to harmony.

Thus let Franklin’s words endure: “Women absolutely deserve respect.” It is not merely a statement, but a commandment for our age. Obey it, and you join the great chorus of history, singing not only of freedom and equality, but of love, justice, and the dignity that belongs to every soul.