Gloria Steinem, Feminist Icon and Journalist, Dies at 92

Gloria Steinem, the American journalist and activist who became one of the most recognizable faces of the feminist movement, died Wednesday at her home in New York City at the age of 92. Her foundation announced the news on Thursday, stating she passed away peacefully. Tributes from figures such as Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, and Billie Jean King described her as a trailblazer who opened doors for millions of women.

Born in Ohio in 1934, Steinem had a nomadic childhood as the daughter of an antiquarian. Following her parents' divorce when she was ten, she became the primary caregiver for her mother, who struggled with mental health issues. Steinem later stated that witnessing the societal treatment of her mother and other women shaped her activist perspective. She graduated from Smith College with a degree in public administration before pursuing a career in journalism.

Steinem rose to prominence in the 1960s, notably through a 1963 expose in which she went undercover as a Playboy Bunny to document the sexism faced by cocktail waitresses. Throughout the 1970s, she founded Ms. magazine and the National Women's Political Caucus, and organized the first National Women's Conference in Houston. She remained an active advocate for abortion rights, workplace equality, and LGBTQ rights until her death. She often spoke of an illegal abortion she underwent in London in 1957, an experience she credited as a catalyst for her later activism.

Her personal life was often a subject of public scrutiny. She remained single and childless for most of her life, citing her early responsibilities as a caregiver to her mother as a reason for avoiding motherhood. At age 66, she married businessman David Bale, the father of actor Christian Bale, who died three years later of cancer. Steinem also underwent surgery for breast cancer in the 1980s.

While widely celebrated, Steinem faced criticism throughout her career. Some younger activists viewed her brand of feminism as outdated. She was also criticized for her 1989 defense of Bill Clinton during sexual harassment allegations and for her 2016 comments regarding young women's preferences during Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.