Feminist icon Gloria Steinem, a driving force behind the women's movement and a vocal advocate for numerous social justice causes, has died. She was 92.
Steinem's activism extended beyond women's equality, encompassing a broad spectrum of issues including the rights of native peoples, anti-apartheid efforts, nuclear disarmament, and opposition to war. She was also an early supporter of LGBTQ+ rights and spoke out against issues such as child abuse, female genital mutilation, and pornography.
While known for her powerful advocacy, Steinem also maintained a long relationship with TIME magazine, where her public image and the magazine's coverage of her evolved over the decades. In the early days of the feminist movement, TIME noted the presence of women in positions of power, observing their pursuit of influence beyond mere display.
Steinem's political engagement included campaigning for Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern. Following McGovern's loss to Richard Nixon in 1972, Steinem shifted her focus more intensely towards advocacy work. She considered the 1977 women's conference, which she described as "the most important event that nobody knows about," a significant achievement, though it also generated a conservative backlash.
Throughout her career, Steinem viewed the societal idealization of women as a form of confinement, comparing it to a prison. Her 2019 memoir, "The Truth Will Set You Free, But First It Will Piss You Off!" reflected her candid approach to social change.
Writing was a lifelong passion for Steinem, who published extensively throughout her career. Her first memoir, "Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions," released in 1983, was a bestseller, and she had another book scheduled for publication in the fall. She often expressed a wry wish that her books would not be republished, as it would signify that their relevance had diminished.