To Gloria Steinem With Love
There are many posts today about Gloria Steinem’s trailblazing feminist leadership, rightly so, as the news of her death has spread. But today, I want to honor her kindness and generosity, her willingness to step up.
in support of another yet woman’s rights cause, her “hopeaholic” attitude toward the unending work for gender equality, and all that this woman achieved for all women—and the betterment of men too IMO.
I met her first about 30 years ago when I was asked to introduce her as she was making a speech at Arizona State University.
However, two decades before that, one of the numerous feminist organizations she was instrumental in starting, Ms. Magazine, had changed my life. I was a young wife and mother of three in Odessa, Texas, starting what I thought would be a teaching career at a time when women weren’t encouraged to have careers other than teaching, nursing, or secretarial work. I discovered there were other women with ambitions that might include but went way beyond being a great homemaker. Ms. enabled us to find each other and to spark conversations that helped expand possibilities for women. Over the years, Gloria and i had many opportunities to work together, march together, and start an organization together as colleagues in the long quest for women’s equal rights. We bantered that sharing the name “Gloria” required us to distinguish each other, so we decided to add our middle names. She became “Gloria Marie” and I, “Gloria Ann.” But I know as you do who people usually mean when refer to “Gloria!”
Still, it was a surreal experience for me to sit on Gloria’s dark green velvet couch on February 19, 2014, Take The Lead’s 10 th anniversary, and share in an interview with her. Our conversation was facilitated by Jamia Wilson, who had been both a friend and mentee to each of us “Glorious Glorias” as Take The Lead board member Susan Arnot Heaney called us.
So rather than more of the well-deserved accolades and personal reflections,which I will get to soon, I am sharing Gloria Steinem’s wisdom and wit from that extraordinary conversation. Please share your own reflections if you are so moved, by pressing “Reply.”
Interview starts at 2:31
Rest in power, Gloria Marie, knowing you did more than your part and are
surrounded by love. Your memory rises as a blessing to all.
With gratitude and love,
Gloria (Ann)
GLORIA FELDT is the Co-founder and President of Take The Lead, a motivational speaker, and a global expert in women’s leadership development and DEI for individuals and companies that want to build gender balance. She is a bestselling author of five books, most recently Intentioning: Sex, Power, Pandemics, and How Women Will Take The Lead for (Everyone’s) Good. Honored as Forbes 50 Over 50, and Former President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, she is a frequent media commentator. Learn more at www.gloriafeldt.com and www.taketheleadwomen.com. Find her @GloriaFeldt on all social media.