The first resistance to social change is to say it's not necessary. - Gloria Steinem
Late last night after I got home from a typical shift at the hospital, I switched on the tv and lo and behold, a HBO documentary was airing about an iconic American woman who's influence in the struggle for gender equality cannot be understated.
Gloria Steinem is a name that I've heard tossed around for decades. Within the evangelical circles I've run with in the past, her voice and influence were viewed as the devil's work. I've honestly avoided her because I was conditioned to not trust her. To not trust the feminist agenda.
But anyone who knows me now realizes that I'm a recovering evangelical and that I've shifted tremendously to different points of view and beliefs. Such as with feminism. I no longer keep it at a distance to keep myself from falling under it's witchy spell. Now I read feminist literature and critically evaluate for myself what it is to be a woman in the world I find myself in.
Since this is the focus of much of my writing life and reading time these days for my book project (Unladylike : Resisting the Injustice of Inequality in the Church. Click here for more info) I was riveted immediately to watching the remainder of the documentary. It is my first real introduction to Gloria and her message. And let me say, after less than 30 minutes of watching footage from her younger years as an activist with slices of speeches and interviews weaved in with the images, all I can think is, Damn, why'd I wait so long to get acquainted with this woman! She's a force to be reckoned with. Intelligent, well-spoken, fierce and unflinching. My generation as well as the next is beholden to Gloria for the painful path she has paved for women everywhere.
If you get a chance to check out the HBO documentary do so. Let me know what you think of it. I hope you'll find her inspiring as I have.
3 comments:
---I did one of my papers in college on "In Her Own Words" :)
As one Christian to another, let me just say, you are refreshing as hell.
nice!
back at ya MIC....don't know how you weren't on my radar but so glad that you, and Gloria, both now are.
(I just subscribed to your blog yesterday)
What part of the country do you live in? I'm in Portland, OR.
I love this quote! I'll have to keep an eye out on HBO for the documentary. For the same reasons you wrote about I haven't really paid attention to Gloria Steinem. You make me want to know more about her too.
I filled ripped off sometimes that I have let so much time get away from me without knowing what it is to be a woman other than what roles my church and my culture have told me. I have a lot of learning to do. Thanks for reminding me of the teacher that Gloria Steinem can be for women everywhere.
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