Recently, I shared the list of female speakers for an upcoming Spokane CDA Woman
Luncheon with a group of friends. I jovially conveyed that each of the speakers had
lived incredible lives, traveled the world extensively, and had many intriguing stories to
share. ‘They are perfect for this event,’ I said, ‘because you know how much women love
to share their stories, find inspiration in one another and live vicariously through each
another.’
A couple of the men laughed. “Are you sure about that?” they asked. “Aren’t women
usually pretty competitive, jealous and spiteful of one another?”
As editor of Spokane CDA Woman, I have always been intrigued by this notion. I admit
I’ve been on one end or the other of the awkward relationship women sometimes share
with one another. I was at an event just the other day where women were giving each
other the hairy eyeball. Some of us just cannot resist even though we know what it’s like
to be under the daunting gaze of a group of women.
My early-teenage daughter recently expressed her anger when she saw a photo of a girl
her age standing at the ocean’s edge, surfboard tucked under her arm. “I hate her,” she
said. Surprised, I asked her why on earth she would hate her when one of her dreams is
to learn to surf. “That’s why I hate her,” she said. “She gets to and I don’t.” Although
disturbing at first, it was the perfect opportunity to discuss how she relates with other
girls, and how I relate to other women, even when perceived inequalities exist.
Each day I enjoy the great fortune of hearing stories from women of all sizes, shapes,
backgrounds, and ages. Every woman, it seems, faces a different challenge. Louise
Brown once wrote: “The young women in my classes are feisty and clever and believe,
often with the passion of youthful optimism, that feminism is a battle already won. I
worry for them—and for my daughters, too.” While we all have different strengths and
weaknesses, it seems all too clear that many of the same struggles are shared in common.
Victories are shared, as well, and we can share in one of the biggest victories by uniting
for the greater good of all women. As each of us makes our own way, chooses our own
destiny, my hope is that we can also find the time to work for the freedom of all women,
while extending to them the same courtesies we hope to receive, so that they, too, have
the option to make the choices they feel will fulfill them.
This is our magazine, WE are Spokane CDA Woman. Together, we can be sure we are
all better because of it,
Stephanie Regalado-Hertel
editor@spokanecdawoman.com
