Like a West Coast wave of post-feminism, a crowd of local ladies piled into the Adventure Centre on Saturday (June 28) to find out how they can play a bigger role in business and politics.Business leader Barbara Stegemann, who recently released the self-help book The Seven Virtues of a Philosopher Queen, spoke at the event urging women to help bridge the gap between the rich and poor by stepping up to major decision-making tables.Her words were in high demand. Event organizers Coun. Patricia Heintzman and Coun. Corinne Lonsdale received over 90 RSVPs.With all the theatre seats taken, many women found a patch of carpet on the floor to hear the presentation."It's about showing up. It's about making a difference. It's about not apologizing for having an opinion," Stegemann said.Her presentation was filled with humourous and inspiring anecdotes about her experiences on decision-making bodies in both British Columbia and Nova Scotia where she often found herself working alongside less than receptive men."I loved when those big elite men treated me like crap," she joked, noting that the experience helped her develop courage, which she says is the most important virtue of all.By demonstrating courage, women would not only be filling seats at important meetings but also speaking up, she said.Canadians waste hours every week in meetings where no one is willing to voice their opinions, Stegemann said. If more people had the courage to speak up, she said the meetings after the meetings would no longer be the most productive part of a gathering.She admitted that taking a stance is often difficult, even if a person is advocating for a worthy cause. "The thing about the truth is once you know it, you got to do something about that and then you get labeled a feminist, an activist," she said.While she said her efforts to empower women could be seen as feminism, she also offered a fresh take on girl power. Rather than a adopting an "us against them" mentality, she encouraged women to learn from admirable male leaders. For mothers, she pointed out that a future without gender restrictions means raising a generation of strong men as well as strong women."A young person can be pimped as easily as they can be motivated," she said. One audience member said some young girls feel burdened by feminism since it can create an exhausting situation where women must make a living while also keeping the home together.Stegemann said this is another reason why women and men must work together to ensure responsibilities overlap not only in the workplace but also at home.The Squamish Historical Society let participants know they weren't the first women to pursue change in Squamish. Along the entrance to the Adventure Centre, they set up a display featuring female leaders in the town's past.To build on the efforts of women and make lasting changes, Stegemann said women who achieve success must help one another move ahead rather than competing against one another."We need to always bring our sisters along with us," she said.
