Feminist Gloria Steinem held “talking circles” in her home for decades
American journalist, activist and feminist Gloria Steinem gathered people at her New York home for “talking circles” for decades — meetings with no head of the table and no hierarchy. These gatherings were devoted to dialogue and personal connections, CNBC Top News reports.
In her 2015 memoir, “My Life on the Road,” Steinem wrote that her approach was partly inspired by Indigenous traditions of gathering in a circle. She offered her living room to activists and other people so they could meet and have meaningful conversations.
A place for collective decisions
According to Gloria’s Foundation, plans for Ms. Magazine and the nonprofit organization Women’s Media Center began taking shape in Steinem’s home. She also provided space to the organizations Third Wave, Equality Now and Direct Impact Africa to plan their next steps. The foundation said that Steinem’s home would continue to be a place where people and organizations could gather.
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Women’s Media Center board member and author of “All We Want is Everything” Soraya Chemaly, who estimates that she visited Steinem’s home nearly a dozen times, spoke about Steinem’s attention to connections between generations. According to Chemaly, Steinem listened to young women without being patronizing and created an informal atmosphere of community and solidarity.
Five tips for gatherings
Journalist and author Allison Gilbert, who studies ways to build meaningful connections, identified five practical tips inspired by Steinem’s gatherings. She advises not waiting for ideal conditions and inviting people regardless of the size of one’s home. If organizing a meeting seems difficult because of costs or logistics, Gilbert suggests inviting a co-organizer — a friend, relative, neighbor or colleague.
Other recommendations include not making refreshments the main condition of an event, inviting people with different experiences and views broadly, and creating an atmosphere in which everyone can speak and listen to others. Gilbert suggests asking one question and giving every participant a chance to speak, without allowing the most active conversationalist to dominate. In her view, such gatherings should be held regularly, as organizing them becomes easier over time.
