The story of Dorothy Gale and the Wizard of Oz has been capturing imaginations for generations. At its heart, it is a tale of a young girl dropped the middle of an unfamiliar situation who must navigate her way home. The first people she meets in Oz (the munchkins!) want to help, so they give her the kind of advice many girls have received in their lives – since you don’t have any power of your own, you can find someone else powerful to fix things for you.
Dorothy Searches for Help
The munchkins tell Dorothy to follow the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City, where she can ask the Wizard of Oz to take care of everything. So Dorothy begins a long and strange journey through Oz, searching for someone with the power to help her get home. The Yellow Brick Road is full of obstacles and challenges that she has to overcome. Dorothy is alternately fearful and fearless, confused and resourceful.She makes friends along the way who are also searching for something – the Scarecrow a brain, the Tin Man a heart, and the Cowardly Lion courage. They team up to help each other achieve their goals. She and her friends reach the Emerald City, where they find the Wizard.
The Wizard isn't Magical
The Wizard of Oz in L. Frank Baum’s book isn’t the fraud he is portrayed to be in later interpretations of the story. He is just a regular guy put in an extraordinary situation. He surrounds himself with the trappings of power to impress the people of Oz, but his “magic” is simple – he reminds those who seek his help that they already have what they need. He tells Scarecrow that he has already gained knowledge through his experiences, Tin Man that the love of his friends is the best proof of his heart, and Cowardly Lion that true courage comes from facing danger even when afraid. But when it comes to Dorothy, he tells her that her problem is beyond his imagination, and recommends she accept her fate and stay in Oz.
Dorothy Claims her own Power
Dorothy isn’t willing to give up. She continues her journey through Oz until she meets Glinda the Good Witch and finally understands how to get home. Glinda reveals that Dorothy had the power to control her fate all along – she just hadn’t realized how powerful she was. Glinda tells her that her shoes "will carry you over the desert. If you had known their power you could have gone back to your Aunt Em the very first day you came to this country.”
Glinda's Lesson is for All of Us
A “Ruby Shoes Moment” is when a woman realizes that she can make a difference in this world using everything inside of her. That strength and power within you is your “Glinda Factor.”
Most of the women we highlight here had many Ruby Shoe Moments in their lives. We have chosen the one that stands out to us as we tell their stories. We hope their Ruby Shoes Moments inspire you to find your Glinda Factor. As you read their stories, keep in mind that their Ruby Shoes "have wonderful powers. And one of the most curious things about them is that they can carry you to anyplace in the world….”