Footage is A-roll and B-roll of a ‘70s interview with Gloria Steinem, an American writer & activist. In short, they discuss the failures of the feminist movement, a current challenge of the women’s movement, why women reject the “feminist” label, and the idea that men don’t exist once women reach a certain level of success. 

Steinem responds to the question: Where has the feminist movement failed in touching the hearts of women, women who are followers of Phyllis Schlafly and involved in the "right to life" movement? Steinem says some of it is failure, some of it is inevitable. The failure is that these women believe the right-wing literature, that the Equal Rights Amendment (“ERA”) will force women out of the home, integrate bathrooms, make them eligible for the draft, and so on. Steinem blames not the feminist movement here but the media for not explaining what the ERA will and will not do. 

Steinem responds to the interviewer's statements that the organized women's movement has been criticized for ignoring certain sections of women, like minority females and women involved in religious communities or lifestyles, and that the women's movement still faces the challenge of being more inclusive, reaching out to a broad cross-section of American women. Steinem agrees with the interviewer's point about the women's movement ignoring certain sections of women. Steinem adds that the movement even replicates some of the problems of race and class that the country at large has. Steinem thinks this problem goes against the meaning of “feminism,” which is about all women, not just some. 

Steinem responds to the interviewer's question: Why do women who live feminist lifestyles reject the label of “feminist”? Steinem thinks there are at least two reasons why the “feminist” label is rejected. One, there is an image problem with being called a feminist. A feminist is often seen as a miltiant woman, wearing boots and army fatigues, for instance. Two, women who accept the label are seen as people of action, willing to unite with other women for a cause. Many find this disposition to act threatening, dangerous, and are willing to ridicule and show contempt toward women who call themselves feminists. 

Lastly, Steinem responds to a common idea held by many women - namely, that once women reach a certain level of success, there are no men - seemingly. Steinem wonders if the above women are engaging in “old think," or an outmoded way of thinking. Steinem agrees that women may now be supporting themselves, but they are still taught to seek certain types of men - men who are taller, heavier, older, of a certain class, etc. Steinem believes that once women realize that they don’t need to seek men with the above qualities, they can then start to seek men that they like and can be friends with. 

See clip 90018_43679_01_Gloria_Steinem_02 for complementary footage.