V AROUND THE INSTITUTE
Radcliffe Day Celebrates Feminism Five accomplished Radcliffe alumnae from different eras—Susan Faludi ’81, RI ’09, Susan McHenry ’72, Priyamvada Natarajan RI ’09, Nell Irvin Painter PhD ’74, BI ’77, and Diana Scott ’81—brought their perspectives to the Radcliffe Day audience in a panel titled “Feminism Then and Now.” Nancy F. Cott, Carl and Lily Pforzheimer Foundation Director of the Schlesinger, moderated.
From left: Faludi, Natarajan, Painter, Scott, and McHenry
Cott introduces the panel
Steinem and Grosz
Steinem
The capacity crowd
Momentum had been building for weeks, with the Radcliffe Day tours of the Schlesinger Library fully booked three weeks in advance; the panel discussion featuring alumnae/i of Radcliffe College, the Bunting Institute, and the Radcliffe Institute closed for registration; and nearly 900 signed up for the luncheon featuring Radcliffe Institute Medalist Gloria Steinem. All three events, held on May 28, lived up to expectations, and the weather also cooperated, despite a dreary forecast. Feminist pioneer Gloria Steinem was by turns irreverent, inspiring, and humorous, concluding her remarks by outlining why the world needs the deep thinkers of the Radcliffe Institute. “Your unique advantage of making others see the world as if females mattered is exactly what we need,” she said. In her introduction of Steinem, Dean Barbara J. Grosz drew a connection between the boundary crossings that occur at the Institute and the barrier breaking that Steinem has done in her career. ƒ
“Gloria Steinem has had a lasting impact on women’s rights … in this nation and around the world,” Grosz said. 14
ra dcl iffe ma ga zi ne Summer 2010
for complete coverage of Radcliffe Day 2010, including video of Steinem’s address, visit www. radcliffe.edu/alumnae/rad_day_2010.aspx. Photographs by Tony Rinaldo