Who said “For male and female alike, the bodies of the other sex are messages signaling what we…”?

Verified

John Updike. A published source records them saying or writing it.

Source“The Female Body,” Michigan Quarterly Review (1990)

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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“For male and female alike, the bodies of the other sex are messages signaling what we must do -- they are glowing signifiers of our own necessities.”
Verified“The Female Body,” Michigan Quarterly Review (1990) · evidenceBody
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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: “The Female Body,” Michigan Quarterly Review (1990).

APA

Updike, J. (n.d.). For male and female alike, the bodies of the other sex are messages signaling what we must do -- they are glowing signifiers of our own necessities. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/8432-for-male-and-female-alike-the-bodies-of/

MLA

Updike, John. “For male and female alike, the bodies of the other sex are messages signaling what we must do -- they are glowing signifiers of our own necessities.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/8432-for-male-and-female-alike-the-bodies-of/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Updike, John. “For male and female alike, the bodies of the other sex are messages signaling what we must do -- they are glowing signifiers of our own necessities.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/8432-for-male-and-female-alike-the-bodies-of/.