The Tamesis
Attendees ascended to the second floor for a talk between Dunham and Steinem, moderated by feminist writer and organizer Amy Richards. “We’re used to doing creative seating,” laughs Richards, Steinem’s longtime friend and collaborator, encouraging guests to grab the upholstered floor mats and move closer. “There’s a loft staircase there too – and there’s a bed up there if you really want to get comfortable!”
Once they start thinking seriously, nothing is impossible. Steinem and Dunham illuminate some of the weapons and arrows thrown at women and feminism today—the divisions that have occurred since the new wave first took off, the stigma of “unkind feminism,” the economy of generosity (which demands a lot from women), and the overwhelming addiction to saying “yes” to counteract it all.
“Do people still ask you if you’re a feminist?” Steinem asked the crowd. (Though it’s a little daunting to tell Steinem, often considered the mother of modern feminism, that the term itself has become somewhat blurred in the wake of the 2010s craze—but her openness leaves room for even the most complex truths, so guests speak honestly, too.)
“This book covers a period when feminism became very commercial,” Dunham said reputation disease. “Everybody had ‘Feminism’ on their panties, everybody had ‘The Future Is Female’ on their shirts – and I had them all. I’m not judging any of them. They were all thrown into the giveaway pile, not because they were unfashionable, but because they belonged to the era. It served its purpose.” Beyond all the merchandise and pink washes, the most important part was something she says her mother instilled in her: “Feminism is about protecting each other’s right to make choices — even ones you don’t like.”
Chatting is like an endless stream of ping pong snack snippets. let us call them Stannism (“Humanity is the answer. Dividing us into men and women is a little crazy”) and Dunham Doctrine (“Whenever someone says to me, ‘I’m really selfless, I give, give, give, until I have no more,’ I run as fast as I can in the other direction. Anyone who tells you how generous they are usually doesn’t.”) Much to the audience’s laughter, Steinem even spilled some tea about literary men behaving badly—Philip Roth, are your ears ringing?!—making for a dynamic, culturally relevant, and hilarious conversation all at once.
As for what Steinem and Dunham want guests to leave with? “A new friend,” Steinem said simply, “or a curiosity.” Naturally Dunham had another idea: “A souvenir. Take one of Gloria’s things,” she deadpanned. “No, I’m kidding.”
No petty theft required, as each attendee receives a parting gift: a signed copy The truth will set you free, but first it will make you angry! and reputation diseaseNext to it are Steinem’s favorite Warby Parker frames: a pair of stylish gold wire-frame aviators. Your summer reading list—and the glasses you need to browse quickly, sorted.
