The iconic phrase, “A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle” coined by Irina Dunn, a distinguished Australian educator, journalist, and politician is less a challenge in creative imagination and more a lesson in inclusivity.
This stirringly witty phrase has understandably withstood the test of time, highlighted in a variety of pop culture references. Since it's inception, the phrase has undergone an array of modifications and adjustments, however, it has stayed true to its intended meaning.
In 1991, U2 capitalized on the phrase in their song “Tryin’ To Throw Your Arms Around The World” off the album Achtung Baby. The lyrics read:
As the title and lyrics denote, “Tryin’ To Throw Your Arms Around The World” is a song through which Bono is acting as an interpreter of a general male experience. From a humanist approach, the phrase conveys a message of universal acceptance, love, and mutual dependency between men and women.
In 1996, the phrase gained even more exposure when it was used as a slogan in a series of iconic Guinness commercials. Given the strict advertising restrictions on alcoholic beverages in the UK, Guinness created a series of ads to engage viewers in a topic that had seemingly little to do with their product.
As profound as a one-minute commercial can be, the ad conveys a slightly more empowering message that a man’s love and acceptance are not integral to a woman's happiness. Some would argue that the keyword in this phrase is not “woman” or “man, ” but “need.”
As displayed, it’s dependence, not love, that equals oppression. Asserting one’s independence should never be discouraged, especially in the sporting world.
The sport of cycling has long been associated with men, however, bicycles have forever been an empowering tool for women across the globe. Through time, more and more women have uncovered the joy and solace of cycling, both recreationally and competitively.
As Susan B. Anthony famously announced, “Let me tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world. I stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a wheel.”
Even though female riders currently make up only 24.7 percent of the riding demographic, specifically designed clothing, apparel, bikes, and gear continue to evolve as the industry and sport continue to adopt an increasing attitude of inclusion.
At Thread + Spoke we firmly believe in and advocate for inclusive acceptance, especially in cycling. As a go-to destination for creatives and cyclists alike, our artists have ingeniously brought this pertinent and profound idea to life. Explore our newly released “A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle” t-shirt or any other of our collections today.
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