Dr Gerda Lerner passes away, January 2 2013
Dr Gerda Lerner died last night. She had a beautiful strategy even in her way of dying. She wanted to leave this world with dignity and lucidity before the body and mind were going to deteriorate more. She has given so many woman (and men) a backbone of courage and strength and a deep belief that change is possible.
Her death is not the end, but part of a process that carries us all forward. Gerda knew this, she knew she was part of a process and was happy that we are taking her legacy forward in new forms and creative expressions that fit the 21st century.
I just learned of Gerda Lerner today and wish I could just say thank you to her for doing such fundamentally important work. how one woman helped change the world. I am so grateful to her and feel foolish and that I have not known about her until she past. Thank you for recording her important history.
Dear Mara, thank you for your comment. It is not too late to get to know her, her work lives on, there is still so much to learn from her.
I feel very much the same as Mara! My grandmother passed away last year and she was from the same generation as Dr Lerner. Unfortunately, being half-jewish she didn’t have the opportunity to get higher education in Nazi-Germany, which she has regretted all her live. Nevertheless, she had a brilliant mind and was very eager in reading and collecting women’s literature. It hasn’t been very long that I “discovered” myself that women have their “own” history. I think there is still pretty much to fight for nowadays as a woman/girl, although it gets harder to make that obvious to people (of both sexes!).
I am very much looking forward to your film!
Dear Leoni
thank you very much for your comment. I agree with you that it gets harder to talk about this subject as the overall attitude is that ‘women have won all their rights, what more do they want’? Gerda Lerner had a vision for women to become strong, independent thinkers who know who they are and where they are coming from and ant to go. That still takes a lot of work, and the works needs to happen in culture as well as within all of us.
Gerda Lerner’s inspiring courage and accomplishments would surely have remained unknown to me had I not been willing to follow my own inner drive and curiosity with unusual perseverence. It therefore makes me very happy to learn of this film project and its potential to reach and inspire many more. I felt a loss at Gerda Lerner’s passing, but the gratitude and motivation for positive change she leaves with us is even greater. Thank you so much for this site and your work!
Dear Bradan
thank you very much for your comment. Gerda is a heroine to many of us, and women need heroines! Her life of integrity is truly inspiring and I am grateful every day for being able to work on this project. And yes, Gerda’s spirit does live on!
I’m one of the myriads influenced by Gerda Lerner, from 1979 forward. I did a post-doc semester at UW–Madison in order to study with her during my sabbatical year from Appalachian State University and our founding of Women’s Studies in North Carolina in 1976. At first she was very prickly, saying that she would not read my work and that I must pay for auditing her courses, but later we became good friends. As Women’s Studies and Women’s History strengthened and grew, Gerda Lerner’s influence and work became so much more important. At one point I suggested to her that I write her biography, but she said she was not ready yet. So now is the time, and I am grateful that you are doing this film. I do want to contribute, even a modest amount.
Dear Maggie, thank you very much for your comment! It is always great to meet people who have worked with Gerda and have learned to appreciate her work. I feel blessed for having met her last year and to work on this project that opens the doors to so many important conversations. If you would like to contribute, you can go to https://www.womenneedtoclimbmountains.com/contribute. Also please email me on livinghistorymovie@gmail.com, and we can keep you updated with the progress of the film.