By Lizzy Scully

A group of women meeting inspires a freedom and openness that exists only when men are not present. Not that there is anything wrong with men, only that something special happens when only women are present. Especially when potlucks are involved.

The first half-hour of awkwardness and unfamiliarity passed quickly on a recent night in Logan, as it always does when women come to gatherings without their masks. Most of these women wore no makeup, some had hairy legs and some wore no bras. Ages that spread across the continuum, 17 to 50, allowed for a rich diversity of wisdom and thought. These were women of all sizes, shapes and colors, different from images of women in the magazines.

Delicious foods covered the table, bright green salads, sweet-smelling applesauce squash, taco salad, hummus, chocolate chip cookies and coffee. A comfortable, warm living room provided a space for eating and talking. Conversation started in small groups. Small talk about yoga, school, the Indigo Girls, homophobia and the WNBA led to a group discussion focused on women's issues. Group discussions with women are amazing because when one woman talks, all the others turn to her and listen until she is done. Conversation flows like a song or a poem. A natural train of thought and insight progresses from one woman to another.

Conversation eventually led to music and laughter. Some of the women brought drums, guitars and beautiful voices. The women sang of joy, the mountains, of love for one another and of respect for "herstory."

Herstory is not a typo, but a word of respect for the much-ignored history of women in society. Herstory represents amazing women writers, artists, feminists, mothers, archaeologists, scientists, politicians and any woman who has struggled and worked hard to make a difference in the world. Do not interpret this as a feminist denunciation of men and "his-story," only a celebration of women and herstory.

After one evening with these women your heart expands, unconfined by judgment. Your cheeks may hurt from smiling so much. They have a collective voice, beautiful and strong. They are full of love and they are women, plain and simple. Women who confide in each other, women who share stories of love, women who dance together, eat together, work together and laugh together.

For more information, email glba@mailcity.com

--Lizzy Scully is a graduate student and contributor to the Hard News Cafe

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