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Steinem speaks at sold-out Stambaugh Auditorium
YOUNGSTOWN
By 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, a line of ticket-holders to the sold-out, 7 p.m. Gloria Steinem lecture already was stretching around the side of Stambaugh Auditorium.
Steinem – a Toledo native and one of the most influential leaders in the modern feminist movement as well as a columnist and activist – was the featured speaker for Youngstown State University’s annual Centofanti Symposium. She participated in a limited-access question-and-answer session with YSU students before the event.
Steinem spoke frankly to the crowd, eschewing a formal presentation and discussing a wide range of topics ranging from her early years as an activist to the governmental structures of indigenous people.
The audience frequently applauded Steinem’s points, breaking into an especially energetic cheer when Steinem referred to President Donald Trump as “Mr. Trump,” citing her inability to bring herself to refer to him as president.
After her speech, Steinem opened the floor to student questions and later had a general question-and-answer session with the audience.
Earlier in the day, Steinem was joined by a group of approximately 50 people – primarily YSU students and faculty – and answered questions on a variety of topics.
Steinem, 83, said although conditions for women were much worse in the past, over time more people have come to adopt her views on equality, and that having a group of like-minded people around her to support and motivate her played an important role in her career.
“I just had to wait for some of my friends to be born,” Steinem said.
Steinem spoke passionately about issues of equality and expressed some disappointment at certain elements of modern feminist commentary, suggesting that shaming and privilege-calling do more to shut down conversation than they do to promote equality.
She also spoke on intersectionality, arguing that racism and sexism are commonly found in the same individuals because both are attitudes employed for the purposes of control. As such, the issues shouldn’t be treated as fully separate social conditions.
Georgia Kasamias, a YSU senior who attended both sessions, said meeting Steinem was incredible and praised the iconic activist’s approach to discussing equality and other issues of justice.
“She doesn’t fall into any of the negative stereotypes aimed at feminists at all. ... She has a very loving, very common-sense approach, and I really appreciated her,” Kasamias said.
Steinem lives in New York City and is traveling to promote her new book “My Life on the Road.”