Happy 20th Anniversary, Cindy!

By Kim Lau, NWHN Board Chair

I first met Cindy in 1991 when I moved east from Berkeley, CA, to begin an internship with the National Women’s Health Network. At that time, Cindy was the program director, the clearinghouse coordinator, and the intern supervisor (all rolled into one), and I was a young feminist reproductive rights activist who didn’t have a clue about formal politics. On my first day with the Network, Cindy offered a gentle “refresher” in the American political system (“In order for a bill to become a law…”), and I was immediately drawn in by what I now know to be her typically straightforward way of explaining complex processes, scientific studies, and the histories of various women‘s health movements.

Even more memorable than what I learned from Cindy about American politics and women’s health issues is what she taught me about the everyday practices of living a feminist life. One day, as Cindy and I were heading into the Senate building for a hearing, a middle-aged white man in a suit and tie held the door for us and said, “Girls…” Without giving it much thought, Cindy looked him in the eye and said, “We’re not girls.” The man looked a bit shocked and corrected himself, “Ladies…” Cindy responded, “We’re not ladies either.”

While perhaps not the most profound example of speaking truth to power, Cindy’s refusal to let this moment of deeply entrenched, but all too familiar, sexism go unnoticed left a lasting impression, reminding me many times over the past 15 years that it’s not only OK for me to challenge the dominant culture that surrounds us but that it’s my responsibility to do so. Cindy’s everyday feminist vigilance — together with her broad view of how women’s health is a fundamental part of social justice — has made her an invaluable asset for the National Women’s Health Network and for women’s health activists and organizations across the country.

At the end of my internship, I returned to California, a bit overwhelmed by the magnitude of what we seemed to be up against and, thus, even more awed by Cindy’s tireless enthusiasm and sincere belief in the possibilities of feminist social change. I saw this same enthusiasm years later when the Network Board of Director’s articulated the long-term goals of our three program priorities. Cindy was undaunted by the prospect of establishing universal health care that meets the needs of all women; initiating cultural shifts in how aging is perceived, thereby diminishing the power of BigPharma to sell suspect hormone replacement therapies; and ensuring reproductive justice for all women. Fortunately for all of us, she has the spirit and the stamina to fight the long fights!

Please join me in congratulating Cindy for 20 years of truly phenomenal success with the Network and for contributing our collective voice to a diverse and widespread women’s health movement. I’ve made a special contribution to NWHN in her honor, and I hope you’ll join me in doing the same. And as we think about the future of the Network, let’s hope the next 20 years are full of the achievements that we’re all working toward today.

Kimberly Lau is the current NWHN Board Chair and Associate Professor of American Studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz.