Eileen Fisher, the clothing designer, is sharing something meaningful for the good of all women; a space for them to connect with each other either online or at the Eileen Fisher Learning Lab in Irvington, New York. She calls it Women Together. Women Together is designed to help women listen, share and connect with one another so that they can ignite true change in themselves and each other. It is born out of the belief that our revolution begins within and that a collective power emerges when women bond with other women.
Each event in the Women Together Series features three elements: Connect, Practice and Move. Whether you join in person or online, you will have opportunities to connect with other participants, learn and try new practices that support the day’s experience and spend time moving. The events always include inspiring speakers and Dr. Christiane Northrup, Latham Thomas, Gabby Bernstein, and Kate Johnson are all scheduled for later this spring. “As women, it’s an important time for us to show up,” says Fisher, founder and CEO of EILEEN FISHER, Inc. “The world needs us.”
Women Together also offers a monthly, 1-hour interactive live-stream experience designed to connect women with themselves and others and allow them to share stories and learn life-changing practices that they can bring into their daily lives. It’s called WOMEN TOGETHER CONNECT and is led by Antoinette Klatzky, the moderator of the Women Together series and executive director and co-creator of the Eileen Fisher Leadership Institute.
The Gloria Steinem “Revolution from Within” Event
Gloria Steinem arrived at the Revolution from Within event April 5th at the Eileen Fisher Learning Lab dressed in her signature black sweater and pants accented with a wide black belt and hip gold clasp. The attendees immediately rose to a standing ovation when she took the stage and Gloria quickly put everyone at ease with her quick smile and the wisdom she imparted throughout her question-and-answer session with Antoinette.
Antoinette asked Gloria about why it is so vital that women come together right now to speak about their goals and dreams. “We are communal animals as human beings. We can’t function all by ourselves. We need lots of different ages at the organizing table. The young see how bad it is, they are mad, and we need that anger,” said Steinem. “When we are not fully participating as part of the culture, then we become the audience, not the speaker. We need to be together,” she explained. “We don’t generate oxytocin unless we are together with all five senses, so nothing is more crucial than what you are doing today.”
Antoinette asked, “Was there an ah-ha moment where you were inspired to write Revolution from Within?” Gloria laughed and said, “We write what we need to read. We need to learn to treat ourselves as well as we treat others. If we walk past a mirror and criticize our bodies, a girl is watching. We need to walk in and look in the mirror and say, ‘I look fan-fu**ing-tastic!’” That became the day’s mantra. When asked how we all can break free of that, she gave this thought-provoking advice, “Imagine your 10-year-old self watching you. Before you were 10, you were probably climbing trees saying, ‘I know what I want, and I know what I think.’ That is still in you.”
Gloria pointed out that we live in a society that tells us our rank in a hierarchical line and we need to understand that we are better off linked in a circle. “We don’t learn from sameness, we learn from our differences.” Steinem said. “If we seek out different people every day, we are likely to learn from them.” Antoinette finished by asking, “How do we have courage?” Gloria wisely answered, “We get it from each other. It’s our community that holds us accountable. We can all contribute something unique. Each of us is a unique miracle combination of heredity and environment that will never happen again.”
How to Sign Up: Whether you join in person or online you will have opportunities to connect with other participants, learn and try new practices that support the day’s experience and spend time moving. All events are hosted by Antoinette Klatzky, executive director and co-creator of the Eileen Fisher Leadership Institute.
Submitted by Frances Wall Higgins. Go to: www.womentogether.com for the full schedule and information about how to participate in person or online. Check the Happenings section in Natural Nutmeg for upcoming events: Saturday, May 18th: WHEN WOMEN LEAD, with Eileen Fisher and Ivy Ross, Saturday, June 1st: OWN YOUR BODY WISDOM, with Dr. Christiane Northrup. Saturday, June 15th: THE RESILIENT PATH with Gabby Bernstein.