We lost a brilliant thinker and clear, strong voice for women recently.   Author Marilyn French was a prolific writer and best-known for THE WOMEN'S ROOM, her 1977 novel, which sold over 20 million copies.  She clearly had her finger on the pulse of the frustration so many women were feeling and straining to change at that time.  Here are two excellent tributes to a woman who, in my book, epitomized:  making a difference on your watch.  The first is the NY Times obit and the second is re-printed from the Women's Media Center on the terrific blog of Gloria Feldt, a personal friend and the long-time CEO of Planned Parenthood. 

I love movies.  But I get so aggravated when I walk through Blockbuster Video with my high-school age son, Kevin, trying to find a movie that we can both watch together.  One of the things I've started to insist on is that the movie actually include some women in roles other than sex object or victim awaiting rescue.   That limits our choices dramatically. Recently, a friend shared with me a list she has been compiling of movies that are about women's lives.  What a concept!   I'm starting a Women's Movie Night with some of my friends so that we can work our way through this great list.   I pass it on to you to enjoy and share with others.  

MOVIES ABOUT WOMEN AND WOMEN'S LIVES  

A League of Their Own

Algeria:  Women at War

All About Eve

All About My Mother

American Quilt

American Violet

Antonia’s Line

Beaches

Bend It Like Beckham

Between The Lines

Bring it On

Daughters of the Dust

Diary of a Mad Black Woman

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

Dream Life of Angels

Girlfriends

Entre Nous

Fried Green Tomatoes

Girl Interrupted

Heavenly Creatures

Housekeeping

In Her Shoes

Iron Jawed Angels

Joy Luck Club

Little Women

Mean Girls

Medea’s Family Reunion

Memoirs of a Geisha

Notes on a Scandal

Pray the Devil Back to Hell (Steinem recommends)

Real Women Have Curves

Revolutionary Road (Steinem recommendation)

Sense and Sensibility

Silkwood

Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants

Soul Food

Steel Magnolias

The Color Purple

The Devil Wears Prada

The First Wives Club

The Red Lantern

The Sisters

The Space Between Us

The Whales of August
The Women

The Women of Brewster Place

Thelma & Louise

Three Women

Volver

Waiting to Exhale

Women on the Edge of a Nervous Breakdown

I've just discovered the Washington Post Leaders website, which regularly posts short and fascinating interviews with nationally respected leaders.   From CEOs, Harvard Business professors and well-known entrepreneurs, this is a great spot for inspiration and to trigger reflection on developing your own leadership style and strengths.  If there is one common theme it's this:  there is no leadership template.  Effective leaders are as diverse as the human race.  They post a new interview each day -- each less than five minutes.   From BET Founder Sheila Johnson, Leadership Gurus Warren Bennis and Marshall Goldsmith, Harvard Business professos Rosabeth Moss Kanter and Nancy Koehn to former Georgetown championship basketball coach John Thompson, Jr, it's a goldmine of wisdom.  Click here to check it out.