Goodman said that there is still work to be done in terms of making the workplace and home life equal for all genders, such as making caregiving easier and encouraging women to pursue more rigorous careers.
“The women’s movement was always going to work in two parts,” Goodman said. “With one part we’d break open the doors that were closed to women, and with the other part we’d walk through, transforming society for men and women. Turns out it was a lot easier to open the doors.”
Despite her retirement, Goodman continues to make change. She founded The Conversation Project in 2010, a public engagement campaign that encourages families and loved ones to talk about end-of-life plans.
Looking back on her years at Radcliffe, Goodman said she enjoyed her classes in the history department and had fun attending musicals and other social events. She jokingly said she remembers a handful of facts and a handful of people.
“I don’t know if this is going to be depressing or not, but these will not be the best four years of your life,” she said. “I promise you—it gets better.”
—Staff writer Virginia R. Marshall can be reached at virginiarosemarshall@college.harvard.edu.