From Playboy Bunny to feminist icon: Gloria Steinem in 5 books

Gloria Steinem, who died at 92 in New York, was a journalist, activist and pioneering feminist. She is best known for her writing, which was both critical and witty. Her journey began in 1963 when she worked undercover in the Playboy Bunny outfit, highlighting the sexual surveillance and humiliating conditions that went with the glamour. This early work was just the start of a career that saw Steinem become a leader of the feminist movement, founding Ms. magazine and co-founding its publication.

Steinem's publications are a testament to her multifaceted approach to activism. In "Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions" (1983), she combined essays with personal accounts, ranging from her time as a Playboy Bunny to profiles of political leaders, all while exposing the deep structures of patriarchy. This book is a great introduction to Steinem's style, which blended investigative journalism with memoir and polemic.

"Revolution from Within: A Book of Self-Esteem" (1992) was Steinem's response to critics who felt her activism should focus more on external change rather than internal personal growth. She argued that genuine liberation required both external actions and personal empowerment, drawing on her own experiences and psychology. By framing self-esteem as a communal resource, Steinem encouraged women to value themselves, which in turn would help them challenge sexist authority and abusive relationships.

"My Life on the Road" (2015), Steinem's memoir, offered a more personal perspective. It detailed her time in India, where she studied nonviolent resistance techniques, and her subsequent revisits to gather Gandhian methods for the global women's movement. Throughout, Steinem shared humorous and poignant anecdotes about everyday life, showing her curiosity and adaptability. The memoir illustrated that her feminism was not confined to academic circles, but was lived through interactions with people from all walks of life.

In "Moving Beyond Words" (1994), Steinem took a more theoretical approach, imagining alternate global economies where women's contributions were recognized fully, questioning the dismissal of female pain by the medical community, and criticizing the beauty industry's exploitation. Each essay was a speculative exercise, urging readers to imagine a world where care work was valued as much as economic output, and ageing was embraced rather than feared.

Even though written decades ago, Steinem's critiques remain relevant, addressing the ongoing struggle for women's recognition and agency in society.

Lastly, "Doing Sixty and Seventy" (2006) addressed the often-overlooked topic of ageing in the feminist movement. Steinem argued that post-menopausal women were often ignored and wrote about her own experience at age 70 on a ranch in New Mexico. She emphasized that women in this stage of life were uniquely liberated and should be given a platform to share their perspectives. The book celebrates ageing and the continued relevance of women's voices, challenging cultural narratives that marginalize older women.