Gloria Steinem, Part 1

I promised my editor, Jill Jordan, that I would not blab about my interview with Gloria Steinem until it was published in All About Women.  The issue came out Friday, so now I can gush ....

I've been totally starry-eyed, excited, nervous about it since the first day I discovered she was speaking at ASU and I asked Jill if maybe she could get me an interview.  (Have I mentioned lately, by the way, that Jill is a Goddess?)

And it's been worth all my excited, obsessive, over-preparedness.  I poured through all the written and video information I could find on-line and at the Watauga Public Library, and, so, learned significantly more about her than I previously knew.  Prolific writings.  Front-line activism on behalf of farm workers, progressive candidates, enslaved children, trafficed sex workers.  Founder of two new media organizations just in the last few years.  Still present and inspiring to women of all ages.

But here's the most compelling thing for me ... two weeks ago I sat in this very same chair in my office talking on the phone for 45 minutes with an exceptionally famous woman I have admired long as I can remember.  And she was as gracious, bright, unassuming, and down-to-earth as every other woman I've interviewed for this magazine.  I had just finished another piece about musical creativity -- had talked with 8 local women I also enjoyed and found fascinating.  I realized Ms. Steinem was as real and open as each of them.  Intentionally so.  Despite having every right not to be.

And so I hung up the phone with Ms. Steinem given something I hadn't anticipated, given something a woman of her stature genuinely wasn't obligated to give:  honest, heartfelt respect.  Respect for herself, respect for me, respect for this magazine Jill has lovingly nurtured, respect for her audience ... I realized when she advocates for equality -- whether on the op-ed page of the NY Times, the steps overlooking the famous reflecting pool, or the stage at little ol' Farthing Auditorium, she actually means it.  She actually lives it.