Beyond the Label

Growing Up

Maureen Popkin Chiquet was born in 1963 and grew up in Creve Coeur, a suburb of Saint Louis. Her father was a litigation lawyer and wine connoisseur, and her mother loved the arts. She was a quiet girl who worked hard in school and adored books and movies. Her mother took her and her two sisters to museums and theaters and on nature hikes to cultivate their interest in aesthetics and an appreciation for beauty.

Chiquet attended public schools until age 15, when she transferred to a co-ed private school. There, she had her first encounter with anti-Semitism when someone spray-painted “Dirty Jew” on her locker. It made her feel like an outsider who didn’t quite blend in. Chiquet was sensitive to society’s push for people to be alike. Her desire to please others and avoid disapproval helped her succeed, but eventually became self-limiting.

Two teachers had a strong, positive influence on her. Her acting teacher drew her out of her shell and taught her how to listen and put herself in another person’s shoes. Practicing empathy and developing self-awareness helped her later in her professional life. It also gave her a chance to try on different...