To learn positive lessons from foremothers I look back to the late 1960s and consciousness-raising groups, to the founding of the Ms. Foundation for Women, to women's anthologies and a movement that changed the world for individual women and women as a gender. Looking back on how the 1970s became the decade of the Women's Movement is to realize how numbers of grassroots circles of women can grow geometrically to reach a critical mass. Once a tipping point is reached, attitudes change and behavior follows. The Ms. Foundation for Women was the first, and for a time, the only national foundation to support women's equality, empowerment and rights. Grants were small -- but support also came from the connection with the foundation. It was like having a big sister at your back. Today the grants are larger, but the spirit of sisterhood support remains.

I was on the Board of the Ms. Foundation in the 1980s. I learned from every grant that I read, became aware of problems and needs, was humbled and inspired by what women were doing for other women. There is a direct link between what I learned from the Ms. Foundation for Women, Ms. Magazine and Gloria Steinem, to my most recent books: The Millionth Circle: How to Change Ourselves and The World and Urgent Message From Mother: Gather the Women, Save the World. The idea of reaching a critical mass is behind my advocacy for a 5th UN NGO World Conference on Women and Girls (5WCW). Please support 5WCW on Facebook.

Jean Shinoda Bolen, MD, author, psychiatrist, Jungian analyst, activist