A Conversation with Gloria Steinem: Celebrating 75 Outrageous Years

"When women come together and tell their stories, something magical always happens." ~ Gloria Steinem  

With support from all over the world she has helped to influence policies and culture norms for women.  She is known as an icon for the second-wave feminist movement.  Yet, Gloria Steinem says "we haven't yet accomplished what we set out to do". 

I first met Gloria at the Engage Her conference; the first multicultural women's leadership conference.  I watched in awe as women flocked to Ms. Steinem, eager to shake her hand and take a photo with her.  She has made quite the mark for herself considering she didn't become actively involved until she was in her 30's. 

Upon turning seventy-five this year Gloria has encouraged everyone to conduct at least one outrageous act for simple justice on behalf of women, families and communities within seventy-five days. 

Following the conference Sharon Sobotta a reporter with KPFA and I had an exclusive interview with Ms. Steinem for 45 minutes. During that time she discussed everything from the lack of progress in the women's movement, Sarah Palin and Hilary Clinton, her "aha" moments, the next generation of feminist leaders, and the importance stories of everyday women hold in this transformational era.

Click here to listen to See Jane Do's interview with Gloria Steinem.

Comments

[Don Pelton]

As a man, I'm grateful to Gloria Steinem and the feminist movement in general for the light it shone on my path back in the seventies when -- as a husband and a father of two young children -- I lost my way.

I found it again after a year of "househusbanding", a formative experience that changed my life forever. It was a heady time and I was full of excitement about what I understood to be the revolutionary potential of the "men's movement."

Now our children are grown, the men's movement seems like a dream, and I am still grateful for Steinem and others who led -- and are still leading -- the way.