Gloria Steinem, a prominent feminist icon and journalist, died at age 92
Gloria Steinem died at age 92 on Wednesday, leaving a legacy as a symbol of second-wave feminism and a crusading journalist. Throughout her career, Steinem advocated for women's rights, reproductive choice, and gender equity. She co-founded Ms. Magazine and helped launch the National Women's Political Caucus in 1971 to increase women's representation in Washington D.C. Prominent figures, including Oprah Winfrey and Melinda French Gates, paid tribute to Steinem's influence on women's careers and advocacy. Steinem's work helped make topics like sexual harassment and body politics less societally taboo. However, her vision of feminism has faced a recent backlash from conservative activists who argue that feminism may have deprioritized marriage and family life. While some conservatives argue that feminism can be oppositional to traditional gender roles, others acknowledge that Steinem's hard-fought rights, such as the right to own property and vote, remain unassailable. Steinem's final essay reflected on the progress made by the movement, noting that women have achieved roles as astronauts, union organizers, and peacemakers.
Sources
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Meghan Markle accused of making Gloria Steinem’s death about herself
The Mercury News
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How Gloria Steinem shaped the lives and careers of women leaders: 'She listened. She connected people'
CNBC
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Gloria Steinem lived to see a backlash against the strides she helped make for feminism
AP News
Paywall and unreadable sources
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Column | The one thing you must read to understand Gloria Steinem
The Washington Post
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Gloria Steinem’s Final Essay
The New Yorker