When it comes to political women, does it get any better than Gloria Steinem?

Whether you agree with her politics or not, I’m assuming that most of us would agree that her voice had a major impact on how women can choose to live their lives today. And at the age of 73, she’s still not shying away from feminist controversy.

Knowing that Steinem, and others like her, were out there in the world as I was coming of age was a beacon for me. I knew that I would have way more choices about my destiny — both professional and otherwise — because of what she, and others like her, fought for.

So, I was a bit like a star-struck teen when I got to meet her this weekend. I knew she was affiliated with the group that was hosting a seminar I was attending, but I wasn’t expecting that I’d actually get to meet this icon of feminism.

She encouraged us, as women with blogs and other media outlets, to let our respective voices be heard in this presidential election year. In connection with that, Steinem reminded us that if we want people to connect with what we’re trying to say, we need more narrative in serious news reporting. After all, telling stories around the prehistoric fire and having them retold and retold again was the first real news reporting. We’re hardwired to want to tell, hear and remember stories.

It was a great reminder in a year when getting voters connected in a way that will get them out to the polls is important to all the candidates. This weekend’s South Carolina primary is a good example of what kind of story is resonating today. For those who want to continue challenging Barack Obama, after a such a huge victory in South Carolina, brushing up on story-telling skills may need to be on the agenda, and, as Steinem said, focus on using the voice of one’s authentic self.