Just One of My Heroes
Yesterday, I met one of my heroes, Gloria Steinem, a pioneer in the women’s movement. My dad probably rolled over in his grave. Women’s rights was one thing the two of us never agreed on.
It was at a meet and greet (for the Clinton campaign) in a small restaurant in the Dallas area. I only found out about it 30 minutes before the event began and didn’t think there was a chance in hell I’d get to see her. Blane and I hopped in the car and headed out anyway.
Not only did I get to see her, I got to meet her and talk with her.
I thanked her for coming. I thanked her for what she did for my mother, for me, for my daughters. For humanity.
Blane asked me to tell her what I had just told him, that I used her words to fight my four brothers while growing up. That made her smile and I got a hug.
Here’s a YouTube I uploaded (about 6 minutes) where she talks about all the great choices we had this year in the democratic primaries and the difficult decision she had to make between Hillary and Obama. The woman to the right of her is Jehmu Greene, the former president of Rock the Vote.
Anita Marie said,
March 3, 2008 at 8:49 pm
That is VERY cool Kitty- I’m glad you got to have that experience.
Kitty said,
March 3, 2008 at 9:21 pm
I’m still pinching myself. I was the last one to sit and talk with her so I had her all to myself.
It’s a shame the press is bashing her about what she said about McCain in Austin. That was so taken out of context.
Ruth said,
March 3, 2008 at 10:30 pm
supersuper cool!!
Linda said,
March 4, 2008 at 1:14 am
I waffle (no intentional reference to “THE Waffle House”) between Hillary and Barak, because I swore that if Hillary ever ran for the presidency, I’d vote for her, even if god herself was running against her. I’m not so sure anymore. I’m not so sure about anything anymore, so…I waffle.
When did “waffle” become a word that means “waver”, “vascillate”, and “cogitate”? I dunno, but I don’t care, either. I’m unlikely to commit, until November, and by then, the freakin’ Electoral College will have taken away my right to make a difference anyway.
I’m glad you made it to the event, and had the rare opportunity to meet the ultimate “Gloria” G-L-O-R-I-A. Very cool that Blane, the ultimate cake-maker went with you.
I think of you and your family often. You are a strong woman because you are a strong woman – not because of Gloria Steinem, but it’s nice to know she opened doors for so many of us strong women.
L.
aj said,
March 4, 2008 at 1:54 am
Congrats, Kit. Is always cool to meet someone you have idolized in some way. Even better when they turn out to be as cool as you thought.
Kitty said,
March 4, 2008 at 1:59 am
Thanks AJ and Linda and Ruth,
Believe it or not there were quite a few men there. More women, for sure, but lots of men. What guy would not be a part of that? LOL.
I did grow up reading MS Magazine at our public library. I spent an awful lot of time there at the library, it was the only place for me to go to escape the heat (Louisiana, we didn’t have an air conditioner). I read every magazine in that place just about every week. I know that sounds strange, but that is how I spent a good deal of my youth. Reading.
For some reason, I liked Ms the best. Maybe it was because I was so outnumbered by males in the house.
That said, I’m not a feminist, I don’t think. I never liked the “burn your bra” thing because my mom wore a double D cup and, hell, I saw those things without a bra.
michele said,
March 4, 2008 at 5:28 am
That is great, Kitty. You look so comfortable talking to her too.
Kitty said,
March 4, 2008 at 5:53 am
I was, Michele. If I could use only one word to describe her personality, it would be “patient.”
She is *not* cocky, angry, militant, or aggressive.
She spoke to every single person as if they were the center of the universe and had this peacefulness about her.
geekbetty said,
March 4, 2008 at 7:02 am
I’m going to be a total nerd here but HOW FREAKIN’ COOL!! I can’t believe you got to meet her. A hero of mine as well!
brut said,
March 4, 2008 at 8:07 am
If you haven’t already read it you might enjoy Nora Ephron’s “CRAZY SALAD.”
Kym said,
March 4, 2008 at 10:42 am
Feminist is a relative term, Kitty. According to my family, I’m a raging feminist. But, When I took a wonderful feminist theory class by Evelyn Fox Keller at Berkeley, the 18 year olds in the class thought I was housewife personified. I actually stuck up for men once in a while;>
Gloria Steinman and MS were some of my first introductions to feminism and I’ve always been grateful for her and the magazine.
sulya said,
March 4, 2008 at 12:21 pm
That is truly wonderful Kitty. Great that you went, great that you got to talk to her, great that you got to say the things we want to say to our heroes when we meet them and fabulous that she responded as well as she did.
Thank you for sharing.
I think it’s so funny and a bit sad that so many I women I know who are clearly “feminist” in their beliefs and ways of living (i.e. humanist, compassionate, forward-looking, aware of the past, desirous of change, willing to fight and stand up etc.) have been chased away from the word “feminist” because of a particular set of actions taken by one particular “branch” of feminism from one particular time… I would consider myself a feminist but I would also say that I’m not keen on the burning of bras either – The girls ain’t small and I like to keep’em harnassed up dammit!!! (wink)
Kitty said,
March 5, 2008 at 5:11 am
Brut, isn’t Ephron screenwriter unfriendly?
Kym, my dad used to call me a “women’s libber.” Man, we used to fight. I’ve never officially done any women’s studies, however.
Sulya, some women brought that up at the meet and greet, how their daughters didn’t want to be a part of anything feminist because they thought of it as “militant.” When they said that, Steinem just paused for a while looking disappointed and then she said that young women are not usually activists because they have power at that age. Power because of their youth, beauty, sexuality.
They become active as they age and lose these sources of power.
Bunk said,
March 5, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Kitty, you’ve evaded the obvious question. What did she smell like? And was her breath like cigar or pipe tobacco?
brut said,
March 6, 2008 at 7:49 am
I have no idea, Kit, about Ephron being screenwriter Unfriendly. What’s that about? She’s one of my favorites. But, as a young college student and reporter she covered the Feminist movement from it’s very beginnings when people like Gloria Steinem and Bella were just starting out and her novel Crazy Salad is a collection of original writings from those early days and other commentary recently republished and edited by another of my favorites Steve Martin.
Kitty said,
March 6, 2008 at 5:32 pm
Hogging screenwriting credits, I think.
Steve Martin is one of my favorites, too. Loved his Shopgirl.