Bright Future: Steinem + Moore On Women Leading A Post-COVID World

Top left to right: Charreah Jackson and Jyoti Sarda, moderators. Bottom. left to right: Julianne Moore and Gloria Steinem, in the recent Take The Lead virtual event.

“Laughter is the only emotion that cannot be compelled. Laughter is a proof of freedom.”

Gloria Steinem, iconic feminist leader, author and activist, waxed poetically philosophical during the recent live Take The Lead event, “Putting Women at the Heart of the Recovery: An Intimate Conversation.”  

““Laughter is the only emotion that cannot be compelled. Laughter is a proof of freedom.”—@GloriaSteinem at the recent live @Takeleadwomen event, “Putting Women at the Heart of the Recovery: An Intimate Conversation.”  #womenleaders #GloriaSteinem”

“We can’t foresee it all, but if we follow laughter, freedom and what we love to do, we’ll get there,” says Steinem, a founder of New York and Ms. magazines, and the author of five books.

The virtual event featured Steinem and Julianne Moore, Academy and Emmy-award winning actor and author in conversation about topics including freedom, responsibility, COVID fallout, history, equality, success and even dancing.

Moore recently portrayed Steinem – one of four different aged actors playing Steinem-- in the film, “The Glorias,” directed by award-winning filmmaker Julie Taymor and based on Steinem’s autobiography My Life on the Road.

“I think there is so much you can learn from Gloria—her persistence, tolerance and capacity to accept things. How she just put one foot in front of the other. She is deliberate and patient and has the ability to create consensus and be persistent,” says Moore, ranked #11 on the New York Times’ “25 Greatest Actors of the 21st Century,” and the first American woman to win acting awards at the Cannes, Berlin, and Venice film festivals.

““I think there is so much you can learn from @GloriaSteinem—her persistence, tolerance and capacity to accept things,” said @_Juliannemoore at @Takeleadwomen ‘s recent live event. #womenleaders”

She adds that Gloria “can marshal communities and individuals, has done so much and takes so little credit.”

At a time when the country is facing the need to restructure and rebuild following the devastation wrought by COVID-19 and the pandemic of racial injustice, the conversation touched on the role of women leaders and individuals in shaping tomorrow.

“Putting women at the center of the recovery is essential,” says Gloria Feldt, co-founder and president of Take The Lead, who kicked off the event. “We have to transform power altogether and change the narrative about power and intention and go after the solutions.”

““Putting #women at the center of the #recovery is essential,” says @GloriaFeldt, co-founder and president of @Takeleadwomen, who kicked off the event that featured @GloriaSteinem and @_Juliannemoore. #covid19”

CNBC reports, “While men and women experienced pandemic pay cuts at nearly equal rates, men, at 52%, were more likely than women, 44%, to say their pay has been restored. Such findings are yet another example of how women and their career decisions have been impacted during the health and economic crisis, and how a history of being underpaid in the workforce could exacerbate the problem moving forward.”

Witnessing “the power of what happens when women come together,” moderator Charreah K. Jackson, consultant, author of “Boss Bride” and a former senior editor with Essence, added, “is when we own our power, we are able to pass it on.”

Read more in Take The Lead on Charreah K. Jackson

Jackson, consultant to Take The Lead, and alum of the 50 Women Can Change The World in Journalism program, offered her insights and questions throughout the event.

Also serving as a moderator was Jyoti Sarda, a filmmaker and proponent for gender and racial equality, who offered insights on gender parity efforts in Hollywood. An alum of Take The Lead’s 50 Women Can Change The World in Media and Entertainment, Sarda most recently co-produced “And She Could Be Next,” which was executive produced by Ava DuVernay.  

Read more in Take The Lead on Jyoti Sarda

“COVID has taught us a lot of things,” Steinem says. It doesn’t pay attention to gender, race, class or nationality. It sees us all as human beings.” She adds, “Women are suffering more physically and a lot has to do with economics, and medical care, but also who is responsible for children.”

What may be different as the country moves toward recovery is a move away from “the hierarchy of the family. We need to make the family a democracy,” Steinem says. “If we have democracy in the family, then it will seep into the outside world.”

Steinem adds, “Change is like a tree. It grows from the bottom up, not the top down.”

“ “#Change is like a tree. It grows from the bottom up, not the top down.”— @GloriaSteinem at the recent @Takeleadwomen “Putting Women at the Heart of the Recovery: An Intimate Conversation” event. #GloriaSteinem”

Read more in Take The Lead on Gloria Steinem

Reflecting on history and looking forward to a federal adoption of the Equal Rights Amendment, now ratified in 38 states, and 50 years after it was introduced, Steinem says, “This is on the verge of finally happening. We need women in the Constitution.”

“Reflecting on history and looking forward to a federal adoption of the #EqualRightsAmendment, @GloriaSteinem says, “This is on the verge of finally happening. We need women in the Constitution.” #womenshistory”

Moore, author of the children’s book series, Freckleface Strawberry, is on the Advisory Council of The Children’s Health Fund and a supporter of the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance. She talks about the importance of storytelling and the ability as an actor to connect with others through story, particularly in the movie, “The Glorias.”

“What was so marvelous about ‘The Glorias’ is that you can tell it in such a deeply personal way. That the personal is political is truly illuminated in that movie. People can find themselves in that story,” says Moore, who is active in several movements including #MeToo, #TimesUp and Every Town For Gun Safety.

“I owe a huge debt to her,” Moore says of Steinem. “She is a role model for me and for people who want to be activists.”

““I owe a huge debt to her,” @_Juliannemoore says of @GloriaSteinem. “She is a role model for me and for people who want to be activists.” #womenleaders #womensupportingwomen #TheGlorias”

Acknowledging that she moved often growing up—23 times—Moore says, “It affected me tremendously and it is incredibly destabilizing but also creates possibility. You realize there is no structure and you have enormous amounts of freedom and a tremendous amount of tolerance. It brings you back to a universal understanding as you are looking for a common thread.”

Looking ahead to new leadership in 2021 in the White House with the first female vice president as Kamala Harris, a Black woman, Steinem says, “We need a democracy that looks like our country.” She adds that in 1972, Shirley Chisholm, a Black woman, ran for president.

“Looking ahead to new leadership in 2021 in the #WhiteHouse with the first female vice president as @KamalaHarris, a Black woman, @GloriaSteinem says, “We need a democracy that looks like our country.” #representation”

The conversation touched on public criticism for beliefs and Moore says, “Gloria is a great example of this. You have to move forward and try not to be reactive. Her ability to not be reactive in the moment” is inspiring.

The event, sponsored by Dr. Nancy O’Reilly, founder of Women Connect 4 Good; Suzanne Lerner of Michael Stars; Lauren Embry of Embrey Family Foundation and Loretta McCarthy, included questions from the live virtual audience and introductions for networking.

“I’m proud I had goals for myself,” Moore says, “I have a career, sustain myself with acting and also have a family. I was able to do both.”

Moore has starred in films since the early 1990s, and in addition to an Academy Award, has earned a British Academy Film Award and two Golden Globes. Time magazine named Moore one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2015. She is known for her portrayals of emotionally complicated women in both independent and blockbuster films.

Her 2019 film, “Gloria Bell,” —about a fictional Gloria— received accolades.

As the daughter of a single mom who was not well and an absent father, Steinem says, she did not aspire to have children.

“I realized you could make a living following your interests and your joy. We are each unlike any other person in our dreams and hopes.” Steinem adds it is best if, “we do what we love so much we forget what time it is.”

One of the things Steinem loves to do on occasion is tap dancing, what she did growing up, and also she admits, “What you can do by yourself alone in an elevator.”

The event was a fundraiser for Take The Lead to offer programs, workshops, training and content benefiting all women and especially those affected by the economic downturn wrought by COVID-19. All proceeds go to Take The Lead’s work for gender parity in leadership, including leadership training, role model events, and coaching such as our 50 Women Can Change the World(R) programs that have been proven effective in accelerating all women’s careers. Funds raised will provide scholarships to our courses for women whose lives and livelihoods have been disrupted by COVID.