Meaning
What does Behind Every Great Man Is A Great Woman mean?
Behind every great man is a great woman is a proverbial expression that is casually used by men to show appreciation towards their female partners.
Sometimes simply referred to as “behind every man”, this term can be meant to value the importance of wives, girlfriends, mothers and female colleagues alike.
It is quite a literal expression, which signals that the role of females in a man’s success can never be overlooked.
Origin
What's the origin of Behind Every Great Man Is A Great Woman?
It is currently not known who came up with the expression, or when. We can only guess that it was born somewhere in the early 20th century, possibly in the United States.
The earliest instance of the proverb appearing in printed form traces back to 1945.
A man used a version of the expression when interviewed by a newspaper called The Port Arthur News: “They say behind every great man there’s a woman”.
Spread & Usage
How did Behind Every Great Man Is A Great Woman spread?
During the 1960, the feminist movement in the United States made a big impact on society, which lead to the increased citation of behind every great man is a great woman in civil discussions.
The saying is especially popular when it comes to politics. It is a favored way to relate to the First Lady of the United States.
It was also featured in the lyrics of Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves, a tune released by Eurythmics in 1985.
