Sheryl Sandberg and Gloria Steinem have spoken up on feminism and their hopes for young girls. The two iconic women are featured in an interview in the January issue of National Geographic.
https://twitter.com/NatGeo/status/813935018817024000
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So what did they tell National Geographic? Well Gloria Steinem feels that it would be good to do away with the concept of gender entirely. And Sheryl Sandberg said access to information is critical if women are to attain equal rights with men.
And each one had some words of advice for little girls throughout the world.
Gloria Steinem told them to “trust the unique voice inside them. And to be sure and listen as much as they speak, so that they are honoring the other unique people outside them. It’s important for girls not to internalize a sense of passivity or inferiority or second-classness, and for boys not to internalize a sense of having to be stronger or superior or in control. What helps the most is for boys to be raised to raise children.”
Shery Sandberg said, “Don’t let the world tell you girls can’t lead. From the moment they’re born, boys and girls are treated according to stereotypes. We tell little boys, ‘Don’t cry like a girl.’ Not helpful. I’d add that we all need people who will encourage us. Here’s an example: We help women form Lean In Circles and just hit 29, 000 circles in over 150 countries. That shows the power of peers. We cannot just help ourselves take on leadership roles; we can help each other. There are men in these circles too—men who are really working hard toward equality.”
In other Gloria Steinem news, the feminist leader is joining with Planned Parenthood and Harry Belafonte in the “Women’s March On Washington” to be held on January 21st. This will be the day after Donald Trump is sworn in as President of the United States and the march is intended to protest what its organizers feel are his sexist positions.
Bob Bland, a co-chair of the march, told BuzzFeed, “Our partnerships will give people who attend a huge variety of organizations they recognize that they can volunteer for as we move forward. We’ll be able to align regionally and nationally.”
“We will send a strong message to the incoming administration that millions of people across this country are prepared to fight attacks on reproductive health care, abortion services, and access to Planned Parenthood, as they intersect with the rights of young people, people of color, immigrants, and people of all faiths, backgrounds, and incomes, ” Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood, said in a statement.
Gloria Steinem herself posted on her website about Donald Trump’s election, “We have all the powers we had [before Trump was elected] of lobbying and pressuring and making clear that the political consequences are great. We may look up and feel powerless and think there’s nothing we can do, but it’s not true. There are things we can do at each level. And there’s always civil disobedience. Trump is not my president.”
