In these final days before the presidential election, pollsters have asserted it is the 55 million single women in this country who will carry the victor to the White House. I was party to a coincidental intersection of two American icons -- single women leaders who remind us all of the importance of standing up and saying what's true without apology, hesitation or regret.
The first was last Sunday in Albuquerque, New Mexico, when I heard a keynote by Gloria Steinem. The second was a speech by Gloria Allred last Tuesday in Chicago. They are both historic and contemporary influences on gender, culture, behavior and perception of women with messages as urgent today as in the nascent days of feminism a half century ago. And both of them begged their audiences to understand this election is about women.
At the Journalism & Women Symposium in Albuquerque, journalist and author Mary Kay Blakely introduced Steinem to the ballroom filled with 250 journalists.
"Is there anyone in the room who does not know who Gloria Steinem is?" she asked.
Only one person raised her hand: Steinem herself.
78 years old and sporting a casual glamor that speaks of self-confidence and an earned style, Steinem pronounced, "Equal pay for females for comparable work would alone be the single greatest economic stimulus this country could ever have."
The co-founder of Ms. Magazine, editor, author and humanitarian described herself as a "hopeaholic," and reiterated to the choir: "We are after a society where we are linked and not ranked."
She rallied for the urgency of this election and the need to understand women as an economic issue, not a social issue. A younger female journalist in the audience asked her about passing the torch to the next generation of feminists. Steinem quipped, "I'm using my torch until everyone else has one."
A report by The Center for American Women & Politics at Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, shows that historically, more women than men have voted in presidential elections since 1964. In 2008, when President Obama was elected, more than 70.4 million women voted, compared to 60.7 million men. In all age groups from 18 to 74 years old, more women voted than men. Only in the category of 75 years old and older do more men vote than women.
And of the 157 million women in this country, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 66 percent of eligible citizens are registered to vote. In the last Congressional election in 2010, 46.2 percent of eligible women voted.
Apparently, most of the time, women understand that our votes matter. But why not all of us all of the time? Certainly, the two Glorias expect that we do.
Speaking before a crowd of nearly 1,000 last week at the Personal PAC Awards luncheon in Chicago, Gloria Allred brought another crowd to its feet.
The author, founder and president of Women's Equal Rights Legal Defense and Education Fund, and likely the best-known female attorney and defender of discrimination in the world, said, "Feminism is the only movement where participants become more radical as you get older."
The petite powerhouse was dressed in regal purple and spoke of having an illegal abortion in her 20s, and how her near-death experience is something no one should endure. "I never want my daughter, granddaughter or anyone else's daughter to risk their lives with illegal abortion," Allred said. She added that such a lack of choice is "mandatory motherhood," and that translates to the biggest economic impact on a woman's life.
Later in her speech, asking the audience to consider donations to the Personal PAC, Allred quoted Steinem, "Your checkbook does reflect your values."
Before closing with a standing ovation from the crowd, Allred referenced the critical vote this Tuesday for women's choices with a quote from the other Gloria: "As Gloria Steinem says, if we cannot choose what happens from the skin in, we will never be able to choose from the skin out."
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.