Gloria Steinem, a central figure in American feminism and a powerful voice for women's rights, died Wednesday at the age of 92. Steinem, a journalist and activist, rose to prominence in the late 1960s amidst the explosion of the women's liberation movement.
She was instrumental in co-founding Ms. magazine, a publication that brought issues such as sexual harassment, wage inequality, and the division of household labor into mainstream discussion. Steinem also actively participated in protests, advocated for the election of more female politicians, and lobbied for abortion rights, employment protections, and the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).
While the ERA, intended to provide a constitutional guarantee of equal rights for women, has not been officially adopted despite ratification by the necessary number of states, many of the causes Steinem championed have become established parts of cultural and political discourse.
As the feminist movement evolved, Steinem continued to serve as a prominent elder statesperson. Her later writings and speeches often emphasized the importance of hope and persistence in social justice movements. "Hope is a form of planning," she stated in a 2024 interview. "If you don’t imagine what could be, you’re already defeated."
Steinem is widely recognized as the most visible face of American feminism, embodying a specific era of the movement that subsequent generations have built upon. The history of American feminism is often delineated into four distinct periods:
First wave (1848–1920): Known for the suffragists who fought for women's right to vote, this period began with the Seneca Falls convention and concluded with the passage of the 19th Amendment.
Second wave (1963–1980s): Revived by the publication of Betty Friedan's "The Feminine Mystique" in 1963, this wave expanded the focus beyond political rights to include reproductive freedom, workplace and cultural sexism, sexual harassment, and women's financial independence. Steinem is considered a quintessential figure of this era.
Third wave (1991–2000s): Following a decline in the 1980s, this wave gained renewed attention following the Anita Hill case in 1991, which highlighted issues of workplace harassment, discrimination, and women's exclusion from positions of power.
Fourth wave (c. 2008–present): Characterized by an emphasis on intersectionality and trans inclusion, this contemporary wave is largely defined by its online presence, utilizing platforms and hashtags like #MeToo and #TimesUp.
While the "waves" framework is not universally embraced, it offers a helpful structure for understanding the evolution of feminism and the progress made on issues championed by activists like Steinem.