Women's History Month 2024: Baby Boomers I'm Thankful For

Last week I learned that my 81 year-old mother can chest press more than I can. 

Yes, it is slightly embarrassing. And yes, it is also reminder that I need to get my act together and get serious about working out.  But more than anything, the conversation got me thinking about how much this generation of Baby Boomer women has changed things for the better. I mean these women burned their bras (thank you for that). They made a pretty big crack in the glass ceiling - and now they are changing the shape and spirit of old age.

So for Women's History Month this year, I thought I'd pay homage to a few of the women who showed us all how to be different, how to challenge the norm, how to speak our truth and chart our own course.  Surely, all of us who came after have much thanks to give both for our positions today, and for the way we will age tomorrow. 

So here it goes, in no particular order.  10 Baby Boomer women who I sometimes just want to be:

Dolly Parton (b. 1946) 

I first heard “Coat of Many Colors” as a kid in my dad's pick-up truck. So before I knew anything of the big hair and big (ahem) other things, I knew the pictures she could paint through her words and music. Staunchly proud of her heritage and comfortable in her own skin, Dolly was always so interesting to me. She is someone who both embraces traditional ideas about femininity and charts her own course. And while she doesn't think of herself this way, her level of original thought, her refusal to be pushed into political dogma, her business acumen and incredible philanthropy (IMHO) make her an wholly original feminist. Plus, she's funny. And love it or hate it, you gotta respect the chutzpah it took to don the Dallas Cowboys cheerleader uniform. 

Condoleezza Rice (b. 1954)

As a “yellow-dog democrat”, it's funny that I should have a dyed-in-the-wool republican on my list. But how much of a renaissance woman is Condi?  Not only did she serve in the Bush administration, but she also had the temerity to immediately leave politics and join academia. She started college at age 15 (so, she's like, wicked smart). She's also an accomplished pianist and has appeared on 30 Rock (bonus points in my book).

Diana Nyad (b. 1949)

Just WOW.  This woman is new to my feed, but I am just so inspired by her sense of optimism and hope. I love the idea that you can still set BHAGs (big, hairy audacious goals) in more “advanced” years - and slay them. This woman swam from Cuba to Florida - without a shark cage - at age 64. Not part of my bucket list, but I respect it. 

Diane von Fürstenberg (b. 1946) 

Yes, she's beautiful. Yes, she is sexy. But she's also a major fashion mogul running her own empire. And in her own words, her driving force was always about being the kind of woman who was “independent and doesn't rely on a man to pay her bills”.  And now she is supporting other women through the DVF foundation. As the child of Holocaust survivors, she's shining a light on other women who have survived insurmountable odds. 

Temple Grandin (b. 1947) 

Way back in 2006, I heard an interview with Temple Grandin as I was driving to work. Not sure if was the spirit of adventure, the aura of the outsider, or her actual accomplishments, but she made an impression. And as the aunt of a neurodivergent kid, I just love the example she's setting about what people on the autism spectrum can contribute. 

Billie Jean King (b. 1943)

So maybe I didn't fully appreciate this woman until I saw Battle of the Sexes, but how badass is Billie Jean King? The tennis match, the demand for equal pay, and the sheer athleticism: it's pretty hard not to be impressed. 

Arianna Huffington (b. 1950) 

While Arianna Huffington is well known for being an author, syndicated columnist, and businesswoman, I'm way more interested in the conversation she's advancing on topics of mental health and wellness. In particular, her advocacy for the seemingly simple, but often complex, topic of sleep has been so powerful to me. She even wrote a book on it!

Michelle Obama (b. 1947) 

Sure, she was first lady. But long before that, she was Barack's boss and mentor when they met.  Her tenure as first lady was focused on children and nutrition. She dances on Youtube. She's real about marriage. She's down-to-earth about fashion. She's all of us. 

And last but not least:

My Mom

Ok, she was a little “extra” about grades and homework when I was in high school.  But as a former single mom myself, I have to give her props. She was a single mom to me for years. She made a homemade dinner every night. She literally cleaned the kitchen floor once a week by hand. She grew her career at a prestigious college from administrator in the Registrar's office to Dean of Students. She's an avid birder, a lover of the symphony, and bakes the best wheat bread.  She's an old-school Yankee and a true Renaissance woman. And without her hard work, I wouldn't be where I am today.

Happy Women's History Month to all of you!