Ursula Liebowitz

“Did you have a natural childbirth? – That's the question that women are often asked.  I was at the gym working out two days before my daughter was born – I was healthy and strong. I never even considered a C-section would ever be a possibility for me, I viewed them as “unhealthy”. But the day she was born, I realized you can do all the thinking and planning you want in your life but ultimately you aren’t in control of what happens. Afterwards I realized, I didn’t do anything “wrong” – that no woman who doesn’t have a vaginal birth has done anything wrong." - Ursula Liebowitz

Barbara Hunt McLanahan

"Until I was seven years old, my family referred to me as "Girl". This was a Chinese tradition as having the women in the house do all of the housework, cooking, and serving.  One day my older brother's friend came to the house and said to me, "Girl - go get me a drink." And I was horrified being spoken to this way and said, "My name isn't girl. My name is Barbara and you can get your own drink!" The friend kept insisting that I serve him but my brother stood up for me and when the friend wouldn't let it go I told him he had to leave our house, and he did. That day I told my mother that my name was Barbara and I didn't want to be called "Girl" any longer." Barbara Hunt McLanahan is the Executive Director of the Children's Museum of Art in New York.

Helya Mohammadian

"After my initial launch of SlickChicks I received an email from a woman who had limited mobility who wanted to buy a pair of slickchicks underwear in a size XLL.  At first, I was manufacturing limited sizes and told her that I didn't have them yet in size XLL but as soon as I did I would send her some. Her request made me realize that the innovative product I had created for women to have a convenient way to change their underwear, also had a use as adaptable clothing for people with disabilities. Unfortunately, by the time I manufactured and sent the XXL garment to this woman, she had succumbed to cancer. But her daughter wrote to me and told me the most inspiring story. She said her mother was so excited that my product was on its way to her that she worked harder in physical therapy to keep her mobility so that she would be able to change her own undergarments and regain that dignity.  While I am so sad that she never got that chance, the fact that slickchicks empowered her so much, erased any doubts I had about my product."  - Helya Mohammadian is the founder of SlickChicks.

Monica

"When I was 7 and 8 years old and living in the Dominican Republic,  I was sexually and psychologically abused by a family friend.  I didn't tell anyone about it until I was an adult when I confided in a Nun at my church. She helped me and counseled me and eventually I did tell my mother. Now I can talk about the abuse without crying but I still feel an empty space inside of me. I have two children and I am very protective of them, especially my 18 year old daughter." Monica works as a Custodian.

Mercedes Gil Harris

"In 1991 I was still living in Venezuela and was given the assignment  to design  the 1992  Ford Motorcraft Calendar that generally hangs in automotive shops. Historically the Ford calendar featured women in bikinis, but I told my supervisor that I was uncomfortable making a calendar about car parts that featured women in bikinis. Instead, I provided my layouts that featured the product, rather than women's bodies. I was only 21 - but I had so much resolve about the issue that my supervisor and the art director accepted my alternative layouts without women in bikinis.  Ford had orders for 23,000 calendars and given the population of Venezuela that is a lot of calendars. " Mercedes Gil Harris is an independent graphic designer. Visit her her shop on Etsy.

Stacey Marz

“Our Mother’s generation was different. They accepted their lot and were nurses, teachers or stay at home mothers. I’m a mother and I don’t think I have missed out any professional opportunities because I benefited from all the women and mothers who worked so hard before us.” Stacey Marz is a lawyer and the Director of the Alaska State Court System, self help services.

Emily Altman

"My mother, Floria Lasky, was a very successful entertainment lawyer who never retired and worked until she passed away at 84. She  practiced law starting in  in 1945.  She was liberated , powerful and a role model for many female lawyers and for women in general.  So it really wasn't until I was in my 30's that I realized that professionally gender could be an issue. I had graduated from Harvard as the last Radcliffe graduating class, I had a great job but I realized there was this glass ceiling for women." Emily is a mediator/arbitrator at Emily Altman LLC as well as the President of the Frederick Loewe Foundation.

Ritu Saheb

"Now our culture says that women can do anything and I've done it all. My life is possible because women can do anything. I am an architect, I'm a belly dancer, I'm a mother, I love clothes and I moved from India to the United States 25 years ago on my own.  Men don't get the "You can be anything message." I can engage in a mostly male profession but men can't enter into mostly female professions as naturally." - Ritu Saheb is a real estate developer/architect.

Jasmin Peltro

"There is a lot of pressure to be a specific kind of a woman. People don't always recognize my femininity because I take on the more masculine roles in relationships and at work. I express my feminism through my mannerisms rather than how I look.  Am I a lack of a woman because I don't connect with that part of me, or am I still a woman?" - Jasmin Peltro works at WeWork and aspires to be a photographer.

Julia Pimsleur

"It’s ironic, some women worry that taking maternity leave will stall their career.  Having a child and taking a leave from my job led me to starting my business and has been the most rewarding and fulfilling part of my career.” - Julia Pimsleur founder of LittlePim and author of "Million Dollar Women”.

Mary Phan

I don’t believe there is a male or female role in terms of taking care of children. I think today there is a call for someone to step up for both parents to share the responsibilities. I am a business woman and a mother and I couldn’t travel and do my business if my husband weren’t caring for the children too.” - Mary Phan is a entrepreneur and founder of The Sketchbook Series.

Karen Loew

  "If I had baby lust  than at least my decision would be clear.  I struggle with indecision about having children.  If I were man I wouldn't have the same struggle because women are defined by motherhood in a unique way." Karen Loew is a writer/journalist.

Shelly Bennett

Shelley Bennett was off to a job interview when I photographed her at the Oculus on Equal Pay Day.  She stopped back by after the interview and said it went well and she has a second interview for the job on Friday.  She said, "I really need this one."  So please, let's all wish her well for her second interview tomorrow.

Coreen Callister

"I've asked for a raise 1-2 times per year for the last three years.  I've been given most of them. Once I asked for a raise in the beginning of the year but didn't get the increase until towards the end. I know how hard I work, and I know how much money I bring in to the business.  I told my supervisor that I was glad I got a raise but if the raise was given earlier in the year I could have contributed to my 401K and accrued more money, I asked them to consider how they could make up this difference to me. I know my  co-workers and my supervisors will value me more if I value myself, not asking for a raise is a missed opportunity." Coreen Callister is a business development associate at IDEO in San Francisco.

Nadine Villar

  " Yes, I made this hat." Nadine Villar is from Nigeria and has six children, 13 grandchildren and two more on the way.  The train was coming in two minutes and I didn't have time for me&EVE interview, but I think her beautiful face says it all.

Lynee Wells

"I loved giving birth. I loved the experience of surrendering to the pain and the rhythm of my body that knows how to give birth.  I did natural childbirth both times and both times I went in to the hospital at 8 am and delivered my babies by 3pm. It was all in a day’s work. I look back at those two births as the most incredible experiences, and no one can take that away from me." Lynee is a Principal and Urban Planner at Williams and Works where she is  also the youngest and only female Principal.  

Lillian Martinez

"Having kids was the best.  Things in life can go downhill but with my kids it will never be downhill.  I have three children, I wanted to have four but I stopped at three, it was enough. Raising them gives you more responsibilities and more worries but they really keep me going. When they were little my husband could drop them off at school in the morning and then head to work.  I had to leave much earlier to commute from Jersey City to my job here in the city.  Now I see mothers racing around to get their kids to school and still get to work on time in the morning. Luckily I didn't have to worry about that." Lillian Martinez works for the United States Postal Service and she has three children and six grandchildren.

Shelley Saka

"In High School I had to take a Home Economics class but I wanted to take Shop class. I was learning to drive and would have a car soon and I thought that taking shop would be helpful.  But back then, girls weren't allowed to take shop and Home Economics wasn't an elective it was a required course. They told me I had to learn to cook and clean and take care of children."

Alice Droogan

"I was in a convent for fourteen years and that is something I couldn't have done if I weren't a woman." I met Alice just as the St. Patrick's Day Parade had ended and she was racing off to catch a train. "It was a great parade. I've been in the parade seven times but this was my first time as an aide to the Grand Marshall."

Lynn McMahon

"I never felt hindered in any way being a woman. My father wanted me to be educated, he wanted me to be financially independent.  It would have been nice if my father, who was a cabinet maker, had taught me how to make cabinets because I like making things with my hands.   In fact he said he wrong not to encourage me to go into construction if that is what I wanted because obviously a woman could do that work too. But he didn't graduate from High School and he wanted me and my sister to go to college. I became a nurse."