How Gloria Steinem helped change the way women’s health is researched

Gloria Steinem, a prominent figure in the feminist movement, has died at the age of 92. According to The Conversation AU, she was born on March 25, 1934, in Toledo, Ohio, and grew up quickly due to her family's circumstances, with her parents divorcing when she was 10 and her taking care of her mentally ill mother.

Steinem's early life experiences influenced her later decisions, including her rejection of marriage, although she did marry entrepreneur and activist David Bale in 2000. She studied government at Smith College, Massachusetts, and spent two years researching in India on a Charles Bowles Fellowship. The Winnipeg Free Press reports that the fight for abortion rights launched Steinem into feminism.

Steinem's death comes at a time when some of the battles she fought are being revisited. As El Pais notes, in the US, conservative efforts have led to a rollback of sexual and reproductive rights, including the Supreme Court's 2022 decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade. Steinem's legacy as a journalist, activist, and feminist icon has been acknowledged by many, including Tarana Burke, founder of the #MeToo movement, and women's rights attorney Gloria Allred, who spoke with CBS News about her impact.

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch Nigeria, The Conversation AU, Winnipeg Free Press, El Pais, CBS News — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.