You young people don't appreciate things, she'd say. You don't know what we had to go through, just to get you where you are. Look at him, slicing up the carrots. Don't you know how many women's lives, how many women's bodies, the tanks had to roll over just to get that far?
The quote highlights the generational divide in understanding and appreciation for the struggles of the past. The older character laments how younger individuals fail to recognize the sacrifices made by women in earlier times, emphasizing that their comfort and progress come at a high cost. This illustrates the weight of history and the often-unseen burdens carried by those who came before.
Furthermore, the imagery of "tanks rolling over women's bodies" serves as a stark reminder of the violence and hardship suffered in pursuit of equality and rights. It underscores the idea that current freedoms might be taken for granted, as the younger generation is distanced from the harsh realities faced by their predecessors. The act of slicing carrots becomes a symbol of mundane tasks that disguise deeper truths about struggle and survival.
