We are becoming
the men we wanted to marry.
Gloria Steinem
Yale Joel—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
The poster goddess of feminism, Gloria Steinem, is 80! She, who popularized Australian Irina Dunn’s quip “Women need men like fish need bicycles,” married for the first time at the age of 66 claiming, “I hope this proves what feminists have always said — that feminism is about the ability to choose what’s right at each time of our lives.”
Other nuggets of wisdom from this icon who has inspired many to expand their world view:
A liberated woman is one who has sex before marriage and a job after.
If women could sleep their way to the top, there’d be a lot more women at the top.
Women are not going to be equal outside the home until men are equal in it.
A pedestal is as much a prison as any small, confined space.
For women… bras, panties, bathing suits, and other stereotypical gear are visual reminders of a commercial, idealized feminine image that our real and diverse female bodies can’t possibly fit. Without these visual references, each individual woman’s body demands to be accepted on its own terms. We stop being comparatives. We begin to be unique.
The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off.
Power can be taken, but not given. The process of the taking is empowerment in itself.
Once we give up searching for approval we often find it easier to earn respect.
If the shoe doesn’t fit, must we change the foot?
Whatever you want to do, just do it…Making a damn fool of yourself is absolutely essential.
A new documentary Gloria: In Her Own Words airs this month on HBO, celebrating the life and work of this feminist icon. Click on “Leave a comment” (above left) to share what feminism means to you.
xoxox
Undercover research as Playboy bunny
A writer never sits too far from her typewriter
Marianne Barcellona—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image
Aging gracefully with none of that botox stuff
xoxox
Thanks to Getty and Google archive for these images!
Sharon Birke
201 697 1947
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Glamour Portraits of the Goddess in Every Wife & Mother
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Mar 30, 2014 @ 10:12:22
I don’t agree with everything Gloria Steinem said that is noted here but most.
There should be more women at the top but not having to sleep their way to get there just the old fashioned way, earning it will do. I think work place equality is way overdue. Just last week I read same job salary differences for women and men and thought ;why? I believe (some) men have become more equal in the home but we still have a ways to go. We should be able to do all within the home with the exception of giving birth. I don’t wish that on any man, well maybe a few! 😉
Mountain
Apr 02, 2014 @ 10:35:52
Being spared the pain of childbirth ought be to enough reason for every man to kiss the ground a woman walks on, yes?