An unstoppable woman trailblazer reflects on the transformative power of women’s voices.
BY FLORENCE KLEIN
As I reflect on the strides toward gender equality, it’s essential to acknowledge the trailblazers who paved the way for today’s progress. My journey as one of Philadelphia’s first female stockbrokers and America’s first woman real estate developer—converting old factories into historic condos—stands as a testament to the transformative power of women’s voices and the ongoing fight for equality.
Growing up during the tumultuous years of World War II, I decided early on to take charge of my destiny. I challenged the status quo in male-dominated fields, while raising a family and pursued my dreams no matter how unconventional they seemed.
Some of my foundational principles come from books. As a child, I would sneak into the adult section of the Logan Library to find more exciting reads. There, I discovered The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. At 10 or 11 years old, I had no idea how radical and controversial the ideas were. The author’s goal was to present the ideal man and she emphasized the importance of being an individual, which was revolutionary at that time. And even though the hero was a man, I never once questioned that the principles she espoused would apply equally to women. A quote from her book, “The question isn’t who is going to let me, it’s who is going to stop me,” became my lifelong mantra.
Another woman who deeply influenced me is Maggie Kuhn. She fueled my passion for intergenerational housing. Kuhn was a passionate activist and feminist who founded the Gray Panthers movement in 1970 to combat social injustice, racial and gender inequity, and elder discrimination. Later she started the National Shared Housing Resource Center to encourage intergenerational housing.
Like Kuhn, I am an activist at heart. I usually do not wait to be called when I see a need. I move forward to see if I can make a difference. I started one of the first websites to assist seniors in need and continued to break barriers well into my 80s, such as writing and publishing my first book.
As we age, the most important thing is to keep going. Age is just a number—it does not define anyone. That’s why I keep moving—to renew my energy, passion, and desire to be who I now know I am. And there is still more to me.
Women’s voices, once marginalized, are now at the forefront of advocacy and change. The fight for equality has seen some victories—from greater representation in corporate boardrooms to leadership roles—and some recent setbacks. The journey is ongoing.
Our stories underscore the importance of perseverance and the collective power of women’s voices in shaping a more equitable future. We each have the power to create change. As we look ahead to 2025 and beyond, let’s carry forward the lessons and continue the fight for a world where equality is not just an aspiration but a reality.
Florence Klein was born in 1934 in Philadelphia, Penn. and graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She published her first book, Under the Hat—Memoir of an Unstoppable Woman Trailblazer in 2023, at age 89.