Hi, George,

A few thoughts on Gloria Steinem from my visit last night to Barnes & Noble.

I sensed a rare connection among the people at Barnes & Noble on Wednesday night. Gloria Steinem rallied our consciousness, and, as she often says, 'consciousness is everything.' When she first arrived, Ms. Steinem made the crowd feel at-ease with her peaceful and friendly demeanor. She encouraged the people standing to come up front and take a seat, and the first item on her agenda was to ask the audience members to make local announcements during the Q&A session. She presented her talk as an opportunity for us, as much as it was for her. She demonstrated her concern about what is happening in our community. She connected with us, by bringing the outside world to us, and we were connected to her and to each other. I felt larger than myself last night.

A good speaker offers perspective. Ms. Steinem reminded us that all societal issues, for instance racism and gender inequality, must be solved together. She offered a history not only of women, but of all mankind, throughout the ages, giving the audience again the feeling of being a part of something larger than ourselves.

Two women were seated to my left, one aged 50 and the other in her mid-twenties. The younger woman was amazed when she heard from the elder about what life was like in the 1960s "before Gloria Steinem": women didn't wear slacks to school, only skirts; women were secretaries, nurses and few if any reached management. What an exchange! A conversation as rare and thoughtful as this likely would not have occurred elsewhere. What an impact "Gloria Steinem" has on us.

From a "public image" standpoint, Steinem oozes confidence, but in a sensitive and considerate way. Everything from her casually pulled back hair to the soft colors of her clothing were warm and soothing to the audience. Not having seen her speak before, I pictured a much more aggressive woman. Her demeanor proves that one does not have to be loud to be heard. Her reputation as the voice of authority on feminism is well deserved. She know her facts, such as the latest statistics on child abuse, divorce, and other societal woes. But it's not her strength or beauty or fact-checking skills that draws us to Gloria, it is the fact that she is a part of history and by being with her for just an hour, we feel like part of history, too.

Thanks,

Mo Chase (electronic mail, September 21, 2000)