I read all the hot takes on Gloria Steinem. People delightedly certain she was something awful –
a communist or a baby killer, arm of the CIA, a playboy bunny subversive. Failed as feminist
because she didn’t single handedly broaden the entire feminist movement to include every
issue impacting women and society, nationally and internationally, across race and class.

What I find entertaining about all of these is that she would have written much better critiques
of her work and efforts than you’re capable of writing.

I just have these questions: Where were you then? And where are you now?

Some of you were the “I’m not a feminist but ….” crowd. I remember dealing with you. Day in.
Day out.

You weren’t a feminist but you wanted affordable child care and equal pay. You stood in front
of my desk asserting your right to time off to give birth. You didn’t have to do it on vacation.

You weren’t a feminist but … you made sure to get FMLA so you could take care of your family.
You weren’t a feminist but … you wanted on-demand birth control and demanded insurance
plans that covered the cost. If abused or raped you want the police to come and you want to be
believed. You weren’t a feminist but “me too” resonated and taking down abusive men became
a cool thing to do.

You protest things your elders had to live with and enjoy things we lived without. Every single
day. You sit in seats at tables we built, often at a great price.

Give us a minute to appreciate Gloria and then you can go back to your much more superior,
highly refined, perfectly executed, snide and vengeful “takes.”

I am sure you’ll pull off a much more profound revolution.