The Summer I Became a SOLE SISTER

My name is Katherine Sloan, but my friends call me "The Women's Studies Major," because I notice sexism and use the word "empower" often. I became a feminist in high-school after experiencing the controversy from my newspaper editorial about our cultural tolerance of the misogynist lyrics of mainstream rap music. Ever since I realized the stark contrast between my generation's post-feminist attitude and the consistent social afflictions of women my age as well as my mother's and grandmother's age (i.e., being treated as sex objects or made to feel ugly or unimportant), I have been on a mission to find ways to empower women.

Last summer, a close friend put me in touch with the Good News Girlz. I had the privilege of not only helping them with video for their website, but also experiencing the powerful effects of being in the presence of a group of women my mother's age who are passionate about uplifting women and creating community.

This summer, the planets aligned when I found documentary filmmaker and feminist Cynthia Salzman Mondell, also a Good News Girl!  Guess what her current film project is about. Women. Using shoes as a portal for community, the SOLE SISTERS film project empowers women through storytelling. The project will include a film, a play, an online community and publishing opportunities that all extend beyond the normal limits of art and into the frontier of the  participatory audience-the ultimate empowerment. I have gotten my feet wet in the social media aspect of her film (wearing only the most stylish on-sale shoes) and used resources like Twitter, blogs and Facebook to build community and solicit women's shoe stories online.

The only way I can express the power of these social media exchanges is through storytelling, fittingly. Yesterday, I was on Twitter as SoleSistersFilm,  and tweeted, "What shoes do you fly in?"  and referred to a shoe story from a former flight attendant. When I navigated back to the page half an hour later, I was surprised and elated to find that a non-Dallas woman on Twitter who I have no connection to at all, had replied, "I recently flew in my Jeffrey Campbell Ticks. Eyes on [me] as I entered the airport and plane. :)" After announcing to the office that SOMEONE WE DON'T KNOW REPLIED TO OUR TWEET, I, with that boldness of pseudo-anonymity that the Internet provides, encouraged this friendly stranger to share her shoe story on our blog. Sure enough, ten minutes later, my co-intern, Andrea Schpok said, "We have a new story!...Who is Shazza?" Just when I was too excited for words, I noticed that Shazza had also posted a call to her followers to share their stories with us! I shot back, "Thanks for the fantastic story!! I hope you stay involved with the Sole Sisters community--you have such a dynamic voice!" I couldn't stop smiling when I read her reply, "Thanks (that made my day) :-)"

When I relayed this adrenaline rush to the office, I realized that I had truly validated Shazza and she me through our unexpectedly deep Twitter exchange. Cynthia recognized what had happened and joined in my jubilance, "You validated her! You empowered her!" This exchange is emblematic of the transformation I've undergone through working and bonding with Cynthia, Andrea and Good News Girl Stephanie Chambers on the SOLE SISTERS project. I have been mentored and empowered to engage with other women, whether my mother's friends, my friends, or strangers, on a deeper level and to finally walk in those sassy stilettos that I used to shy away from and to talk in the group settings I used to sit through in silence. I've found my voice. What's your shoe story? www.solesistersfilm.com