"My" Gloria Steinem

My generation had Doris Day as a role model, then Gloria Steinem—then Princess Diana. We are the most confused generation.  

- Erica Jong

Many years ago, when I was trying my hand at literary translations, a female editor from “World Literature”, a monthly literary magazine in Poland, asked me to translate an article from Ms. magazine: “Alice Walker: Do You Know This Woman? She Knows You", by Gloria Steinem.  At that time (in 1988) I knew very little about Alice Walker, had no idea who Gloria Steinem was, and had never heard of Zora Neale Hurston. This small assignment opened a new world to me. I knew that from now on these three women would be on my reading list. I admit that I did not fully understand which equality Gloria Steinem was talking about. I lived in a Communist country where all people, men and women, were presumably equal, at least legally. The biological inequality with its consequences in terms of employment and earnings, as well as the household duties, seemed natural and obvious - something you didn’t question. I was confused.

     I started translating poets then unknown in Poland, such as Erica Jong and Anne Sexton; I wrote about Sylvia Plath and Lillian Hellman and did an afterword to the Polish translation of "Any Woman's Blues" by Erica Jong. Gradually I became a feminist myself, which was not difficult for me as my dad had brought me up to be an independent woman.

     Many years later, when my husband Ed and I were living in California in 2000, Gloria Steinem was to give a talk at Notre Dame University in Belmont. He and I went together to hear her; there was an anti-abortion/anti-Steinem demonstration in front of the university, but the great hall was full. The audience consisted mostly of women, although it did include some older men, respected university professors, judging by their appearance. I do not remember the talk, only some questions from the audience, and Ms. Steinem’s answers. When asked about Elizabeth Dole, who ran for the Republican nomination in the U.S. presidential election, Gloria Steinem said "wrong woman, wrong message", and that Elizabeth Dole did not stand a chance. (We all thought the same.)  After the talk Gloria Steinem signed her books. I had brought "Revolution From Within" with me and meant to tell her about how I first came across her name, but being awfully shy and self-conscious, did not find enough courage to open my mouth, which I of course will regret for my lifetime unless I get another shot...