How Gloria Steinham changed the lives of generations of women
The trailblazing feminist spoke out for the legalisation of abortion, same-sex marriage and equal pay for women - but her activism was not without backlash.
American journalist, activist, and feminist icon Gloria Steinem passed away at the age of 92, according to her foundation. Steinem, who lived a nomadic life as a child following her father's traveling salesman career, experienced the loss of her parents and had to care for her mother. A divorce at the age of 10 left her with a challenging childhood.
Steinem entered journalism in the 1960s and denounced the inequalities faced by women in the US. Her work brought her prominence in 1963 when she exposed the sexism faced by cocktail waitresses at New York's Playboy Club. However, it was her awakening to feminist activism in 1969 that made a significant impact. At this meeting, Steinem learned about the ordeal of having an abortion, which was still illegal in the US at the time.
Steinem recounted that a London doctor she consulted in 1957 made her promise confidentiality and to pursue her life's goals.
After this experience, Steinem transitioned from writing to public speaking, traveling extensively across the United States and the world. She founded Ms Magazine and the National Women's Political Caucus in the 1970s, organizing the first National Women's Conference in Houston. Steinem faced intense public scrutiny during her career due to her attractiveness, miniskirts, and Playboy Bunny experience.
Her single and childless status was also weaponized against her. She finally married businessman David Bale in 1971, with whom she had a son. Bale tragically died of brain cancer in 1975, leaving Steinem alone again.
Steinem received numerous awards and honors for her work, including the US Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013. Her foundation highlights Steinem's lifelong commitment to equality and her ability to make others feel seen and heard. The foundation states that Steinem's near-century-long life was filled with well-lived years. Steinem's independent spirit, curiosity, and great sense of humor defined her legacy, leaving a lasting impact on feminism and women's rights.
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