I hope my granddaughters follow the example their mothers (my daughters) set and work to become the people they most wish to be. It worn’t be easy, but it will be worth the effort. Fitting into a tiny box defined by others is no future for anyone, male or female. Gloria Steinem and many, many other Baby Boomer women I grew up with took some really hard and undeserved knocks during their lives. But they followed that old saying (Japanese, I believe, but closely matched by a verse in Proverbs): Fall down seven times, stand up eight. Gloria never gave away her power and she didn’t suffer fools lightly. I respect and admire that.
Yes! Ms. Steinem 4evah and evah! I was 11 years old when Time magazine’s issue with Ms. Steinem—holding a sign that said WE SHALL OVERCOME—on the cover appeared on my parents’ coffee table. My dad ranted and raved about Ms. Steinem with hissing scorn so frequently, it finally hit me that he FEARED her. I was so deeply impressed by how much she bothered him, that I hung on her every word. She validated my sass and suspicions, and revealed the power of words to me. Her books, magazine, raised-fist images on other magazines and media TOOK UP SPACE in the lower middle class homes where I babysat and cleaned houses. She got in our heads, our hearts, and got our feet marching. I’m forever indebted to her. And I’ll never stop fighting for her causes. GLORIA! 4evah!
Well written. I was brought up in the Catholic faith where memorizing Baltimore catechism sprinkled with a generous amount of guilt left little for self reflection. I characterized my marriage as Gloria Steinman married to Archie Bunker. But I treasure that she saw in us the potential past the white picket fence and the two kids. Treasure your friendship with the women around you. Share your stories cry on their shoulders but most of all laugh and love with them.
The fact that so many of today’s younger generation of women don’t know about or don’t appreciate Steinhem’s incredible work or, even worse, argue for the “pre-feminism” world has long been one of my greatest frustrations as a woman.
Thank you, Nina. I had to look up that Keats quote. Found it's from a six line poem written almost two hundred years after Swift died, based on his own Latin epitaph. From one Irish activist to another.
The full poem, published by W.B. Yeats in 1933 under the title "Swift's Epitaph," reads:
"surgically disfigured foot-bound younger women who have given up the fight" We are all strangers in a strange land now and we can't find our way back. Onward through the fog!
Excellent. I was one who was expected to be a trad wife. A Doctor’ s wife of all things.
But I ended up as de facto single mom going back to school and getting my masters while taking care of the car pooling and other parenting tasks
.
If it wasnt the co-operation with other women and the consciousness raising happening in the culture I wouldn’t have survived
Brilliant!
I hope my granddaughters follow the example their mothers (my daughters) set and work to become the people they most wish to be. It worn’t be easy, but it will be worth the effort. Fitting into a tiny box defined by others is no future for anyone, male or female. Gloria Steinem and many, many other Baby Boomer women I grew up with took some really hard and undeserved knocks during their lives. But they followed that old saying (Japanese, I believe, but closely matched by a verse in Proverbs): Fall down seven times, stand up eight. Gloria never gave away her power and she didn’t suffer fools lightly. I respect and admire that.
Yes! Ms. Steinem 4evah and evah! I was 11 years old when Time magazine’s issue with Ms. Steinem—holding a sign that said WE SHALL OVERCOME—on the cover appeared on my parents’ coffee table. My dad ranted and raved about Ms. Steinem with hissing scorn so frequently, it finally hit me that he FEARED her. I was so deeply impressed by how much she bothered him, that I hung on her every word. She validated my sass and suspicions, and revealed the power of words to me. Her books, magazine, raised-fist images on other magazines and media TOOK UP SPACE in the lower middle class homes where I babysat and cleaned houses. She got in our heads, our hearts, and got our feet marching. I’m forever indebted to her. And I’ll never stop fighting for her causes. GLORIA! 4evah!
Well written. I was brought up in the Catholic faith where memorizing Baltimore catechism sprinkled with a generous amount of guilt left little for self reflection. I characterized my marriage as Gloria Steinman married to Archie Bunker. But I treasure that she saw in us the potential past the white picket fence and the two kids. Treasure your friendship with the women around you. Share your stories cry on their shoulders but most of all laugh and love with them.
The fact that so many of today’s younger generation of women don’t know about or don’t appreciate Steinhem’s incredible work or, even worse, argue for the “pre-feminism” world has long been one of my greatest frustrations as a woman.
Thank you, Nina. I had to look up that Keats quote. Found it's from a six line poem written almost two hundred years after Swift died, based on his own Latin epitaph. From one Irish activist to another.
The full poem, published by W.B. Yeats in 1933 under the title "Swift's Epitaph," reads:
Swift has sailed into his rest;
Savage indignation there
Cannot lacerate his breast.
Imitate him if you dare,
World-besotted traveller; he
Served human liberty.
Thank you Nina!
Thank you for your voice. And spirit.
"surgically disfigured foot-bound younger women who have given up the fight" We are all strangers in a strange land now and we can't find our way back. Onward through the fog!
Well said.
The actual chant was “Jews will not replace us.”
Ahh yes, the extremely transphobic, very racist cia asset who railed against class consciousness. what a hero