Dolly Parton died on Aug. 25, and Gloria Steinem died on Sept. 2. I asked five successful Forest Park women to reflect on what Parton and Steinem meant to them as individuals and to American society in general. 

“Women like Dolly Parton and Gloria Steinem,” said Village Commissioner Maria Maxham, “were both essential to changing the landscape for women in many areas. 

“Dolly was unapologetically herself: feminine to an extreme, sexy and powerful, and an extremely astute business owner. The message she sent was that you can be attractive and strong and a leader all at once. Those things aren’t mutually exclusive, though even today people love to suggest they are. 

“Gloria stood up publicly and loudly for what she knew was right, even when the people around her refused to acknowledge the truth of what she was saying. 

“I’m a feminist in who I am and in what I do. I’m a woman who says what she thinks, does what she wants, and fights for what she believes in. I push back against the notion that I’m ‘aggressive’ or that I browbeat others with the intensity of my messages. 

“Feminism means we don’t have a dress code. We can be provocative or modest. Feminism means we can say what we want and be who we are, and we don’t need to apologize for either. 

“I specifically remember this riddle that I heard as a kid: A father and his son are in a car accident. The father dies at the scene. The son is rushed to the hospital and taken into the operating room. The surgeon looks at the boy and says, ‘I can’t operate on him. He’s my son.’ 

“How is this possible? The answer, of course, is that the surgeon is his mother. The fact that it was a mind-boggling riddle back then tells you everything you need to know about what we assumed a doctor looked like. 

“Men ran the big corporations. Men could serve as president of the United States, and women, perhaps, in lower positions. This was well before the #MeToo movement, and men got away with so many things. Inappropriate comments, gestures, touches. In many circles, it was simply accepted. 

“I wish I had been a feminist back then. I wish I’d had the understanding and the strength to know I didn’t have to put up with any of it.” 

Jessica Voogd, another Forest Park commissioner, said, “I believe in and advocate for equal rights, freedoms, and opportunities for everyone, regardless of gender, race, class, or ethnicity. The grounding principle of feminism is equality and I think we successfully walk that path through equity. 

“There is an often-used phrase, ‘we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us.’ I am absolutely inspired by Dolly Parton and Gloria Steinem. They are on a long list of so many brave and passionate women who fought hard for where we stand today. 

“I’m not sure if Dolly Parton ever called herself a feminist, but she did say she was a ‘woman in business.’ She was an incredibly savvy businesswoman and a true humanitarian. Her actions, over decades, supported marginalized and disadvantaged communities. She embraced treating people with love, kindness, and understanding. Lucky is this world if we could all be even a teeny bit more like Dolly.” 

Jackie Iovinelli, executive director of the Park District of Forest Park, uses the term “independent” to describe herself instead of “feminist.” She said Dolly Parton had a big influence on her “because of her sharp wit. She had the ability to take a comment that could be offensive and turn it around to make it positive. She taught me if you work hard, you can do anything you put your mind to.”  

Laurie Kokenes has been the executive director of the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce since 1992 and was the manager of the Forest Park Review before that. “I don’t label myself a feminist,” she said, “but I 100% believe that everyone, regardless of gender, should have equal rights and opportunities. As for the label I would use to describe my beliefs, the first thing that comes to mind is something David Rose from the show Schitt’s Creek said: ‘I like the wine, not the label.’  

“Dolly Parton was an inspiration in so many ways. She rose from extreme poverty and built a legendary music career, all while remaining her authentic self. She had all the traits of a good human, including kindness, empathy and generosity, which the world definitely needs more of.” 

Michelle Melin-Rogovin, another commissioner of Forest Park, considers herself to be a humanist. “I advocate for human rights and the equity and well-being of all people. 

“Both women inspired me because they were authentic and unapologetic in advocating for people they cared about and for issues of equality and representation. Both Dolly and Gloria used their talents and gifts to help others, and I hope to do the same throughout my life whenever I can.”     

Check out Tom’s ongoing substack posts about the fictional life of Pastor Walter Mitty at https://tomholmes10.substack.com/