1,500 Join Schakowsky at Women Power Tribute

In a hotel ballroom, tucked behind skyscrapers and heavy drapes, a movement of women cheered for the word “vagina."

It was the 10th annual Ultimate Women’s Power Lunch hosted by Rep. Jan Schakowsky, who was joined at the podium by a fellow Democratic congresswoman, Gwen Moore of Wisconsin. Also taking the stage were Eve Ensler, author of The Vagina Monologues, and Gov. Pat Quinn, who called Schakowsky the “paragon of integrity.”

Over a three-course meal at the Hilton Hotel in downtown Chicago, about 1,500 women and a handful of men listened to speeches about women empowerment, fairness and progress over the past decade. Since the event started with 500 people attending in 2001, it has seen women’s graduation levels exceed those of men and recent titles in the media such as The Atlantic Monthly’s feature cover story, “The End of Men” by Hanna Rosin.

“There’s more organization out there on the progressive side but we’re also seeing that the challenges that we’re facing are really, really fierce right now,” said Schakowsky, who represents the state's 9th Congressional District.

“We are still--for the same job--getting unequal pay. It’s just completely unjust, and we have to continue to fight for equal pay for equal rights," she added. "It’s the 21st century, really quite remarkable [that a pay gap remains].”

The seven-term House representative has won a wide support base in the region. Audience members stood up on several occasions to give standing ovations.

“Jan’s been a huge supporter of women and women candidates,” said Mariyana Spyropoulos, a commissioner with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. “It’s important to support each other [and] this is a great environment; people are very opening and welcoming.”

Another audience member agreed.

“Even when you don’t know who the women in the room are, you know they are the most powerful women in the Chicago area,” said Karen Kring, the former president of Association for Women Journalists, who has attended the event for the past few years.

“They [women] are making strides but they still end up being the best-kept secrets," she added.

Moore received a standing ovation after her talk, during which she led the audience in a summarized history of  the comic book heroine Wonder Woman. Brandishing a golden lasso, power bracelets and a flower headband positioned between her brow, Moore talked about recent events in Washington.

“Who knew our ovaries were so powerful?” she asked rhetorically, referring to the budget stalemate over funding for Planned Parenthood and other issues last weekend.

Ensler followed up Moore with a reading of her published writing about her yearlong battle with cancer. “I’ve become hyper-aware of what keeps a person alive,” said the founder of V-Day, an activist movement to stop violence against women and girls around the world. “It’s about not being forgotten; it’s attention; it’s love.”

Ensler defined woman leadership as “modeling a heart-head combination,” emphasizing the importance of feelings. She then described “vagina warriors” as women who experience violence, grieve its pain and then devote their lives so that others do not have to carry the same burden.