Gloria Steinem, Pioneering Feminist and Journalist, Dies at 92

Gloria Steinem, the influential journalist and activist who became a symbol of the women's liberation movement, has died at the age of 92. Known for her role as a co-founder of Ms. magazine in 1971 or 1972, Steinem spent decades advocating for reproductive rights and challenging systemic sexism. Her career began with a significant piece of undercover journalism for the Playboy Club, where she exposed the exploitation and low pay of the women employed there.

Steinem's public image, characterized by her aviator sunglasses and center-parted hair, played a complex role in her career. She used her appearance as a form of agency and a way to challenge stereotypes that feminists were unattractive or bra-burning radicals. However, this visibility also made her a target for criticism. She was described by some, including Washington Post columnist Maxine Cheshire, as the miniskirted pinup girl of the intelligentsia. While the right attacked her for allegedly destroying the family, some on the left viewed her as too mainstream.

In her final interview for Netflix's Famous Last Words in February 2025, Steinem expressed a desire not to be seen as the sole face of the feminist movement, noting that the movement is diverse and that her own fame was more a result of her endurance. Her commitment to independence was evident in her leadership of Ms. magazine, where she refused to rely on advertisers who promoted a kept-woman mentality, such as Estée Lauder.

Throughout her life, Steinem's personal experiences informed her activism. In her 2015 memoir, My Life on the Road, she described a click of consciousness she experienced while covering an abortion speak-out in 1969, which led her to realize she had been silent and silenced regarding her own abortion at age 22.