As the mother of two daughters, I have great respect for women. And I don't ever want to lose that. — Vera Wang

As the mother of two daughters, I have great respect for women. And I don't ever want to lose that.

Author: Vera Wang

Insight: There's something quietly powerful about recognizing that respect isn't automatic—it's something you have to actively choose to maintain. Vera Wang isn't saying she respects women because it's the right thing to do. She's saying she's consciously protecting that respect, which implies she knows how easy it would be to lose it. Parenthood has a way of clarifying what actually matters, and for her, watching her daughters navigate the world seemed to sharpen her understanding of women's actual complexity rather than soften it into sentimentality. The harder part of her statement is that "I don't ever want to lose that." Most of us assume our good intentions are permanent, but respect—especially when it crosses gender lines—requires maintenance. It means noticing when you're making assumptions, when you're reducing someone to a stereotype, or when you're letting casual dismissal slide because it's easier. It means staying curious about experiences different from your own. This resonates beyond parenting. Whether you're a parent, a colleague, a friend, or just moving through the world, respect is something you renew daily. You lose it gradually, through small compromises and lazy thinking, not through dramatic betrayals. Wang's simple statement is actually a reminder that vigilance isn't paranoia—it's the baseline work of seeing people clearly.