The Duchess of Sussex and the feminist icon sat down for a talk on feminism and the importance of voting as the US presidential election looms closer. MAKERS Women, an organisation that defines its mission as “accelerating the women’s movement through stories of real-life experiences,” shared a video of the conversation to Instagram.
As a present to mark the occasion, Ms Steinem gave the Duchess a beaded bracelet that reads: “Imagine we are linked, not ranked”.
The piece of jewellery references the importance of women supporting other women as opposed to competing against each other.
Speaking about the special gift, Meghan said: “I love this.”
Ms Steinem added: “Well, you know actually, ‘we are linked not ranked’ is the shortest way I’ve ever found to say what our goal is.”
The Duchess said: “It means everything to me on every level; we are linked not ranked.”
And although the bracelet has already sold out, it will reportedly be restocked with all proceeds going to Femist.com, a platform founded by author Marianne Schnall.
In the website, Ms Schnall says Femist.com’s purpose is to “offer people around the world access to information about human rights, women’s issues, health, anti-violence resources, grassroots activism, women’s businesses, and pretty much anything that could possibly support a world where men and women are allied, empowered and equal.”
Describing its trajectory since it was founded in 1995, Ms Schnall adds: “Over 15 years later, we’re proud to be what Gloria Steinem dubbed ‘the folks who put the dot-com in feminism.’
READ MORE: Sophie Countess of Wessex body language with Edward shows relationship
“You know, for me, being biracial, growing up, whether it was a doll or a person in office, you need to see someone who looks like you in some capacity.
“As many of us believe, you can only be what you can see.
“And in the absence of that, how can you aspire to something greater than what you see in your own world.
“I think maybe now we’re starting to break-through in a different way.”
At the beginning of her opening piece for MAKERS, Meghan quoted Ms Steinem, writing: “If you don’t vote, you don’t exist.”
