Gloria Steinem, a leading figure in American feminism whose activism was galvanized by the fight for abortion rights, died Wednesday at age 92. She lived to witness a significant backlash against the feminist movement she helped define, with issues like reproductive freedom, motherhood, and traditional gender roles once again at the forefront of national debates.
The feminist movement of the late 1960s, with which Steinem became synonymous, fundamentally reshaped American society. It fueled a surge of women into the workforce and challenged established norms. However, Steinem also saw the persistence of the gender wage gap, sexual harassment, and underrepresentation of women in leadership positions.
The Supreme Court's 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, eliminating the constitutional right to abortion, marked a critical juncture. This ruling has led to abortion bans in many states, reigniting intense cultural and political battles.
For conservative activists, the overturning of Roe v. Wade was a significant victory. This sentiment has emboldened a movement that advocates for traditional gender roles, often attributing societal shifts like declining birthrates and rising divorce rates to feminism. Organizations like the Heritage Foundation have published reports suggesting that feminism has devalued marriage and motherhood.
"Feminism did a grave disservice to women, and men by extension, by promoting the idea that marriage and family are lesser pursuits and should be deprioritized," stated Delano Squires, a co-author of a Heritage Foundation report. Emma Waters, another co-author, has criticized a "career-first culture" that she argues undermines female happiness, suggesting that embracing motherhood and traditional marital practices is a countercultural act for young women today.
Steinem herself never had children, a choice she supported for others while consistently advocating for reproductive choice as essential to women's empowerment. Her own journey into activism began in 1969 after attending a meeting where women shared their experiences with abortion, prompting her to speak about her own secret abortion in London at age 22.
In the 1960s, abortion was largely illegal, and women faced significant legal and economic barriers. Fewer than 50% of women were in the labor force, and it was legal to terminate employment for pregnancy. Women often required male co-signers for credit, and there were only 11 women in Congress.
Today, the landscape has changed dramatically. Approximately 58% of women aged 20 and older are in the labor force, with that figure rising to 77% for prime working-age women. Laws like the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974 have made it illegal to deny credit based on sex, and there are now 152 women serving in Congress.
While some basic rights for women, such as property ownership and the right to vote and work, are widely accepted even by those who champion traditional gender roles, more extreme views have surfaced. Instances like the reposting of a video suggesting women should lose the right to vote have drawn widespread condemnation.
Some scholars argue that the religious right views feminism as fundamentally at odds with Christian ideals of family structure. "It makes it directly oppositional: that to be a good Christian, you can’t be a feminist," said Beth Allison Barr, a professor of women's history at Baylor University.
Women's advocacy groups contend that efforts to restrict reproductive rights and critiques of feminism are ultimately aimed at disempowering women and limiting their life choices. Organizations like the National Women's Law Center advocate for policies such as paid family leave and affordable childcare as ways to support families without forcing women to choose between careers and childrearing.
"We are really in a bigger cultural fight about who we are going to be as a nation and what women's role will be," said Fatima Goss Graves, CEO of the National Women's Law Center.
Despite legal setbacks and ongoing struggles, such as the push for the Equal Rights Amendment, feminism's impact is deeply ingrained in modern American life. The economy now relies on women's continued participation in the workforce. As historian Estelle Freedman noted, the feminist movement has historically seen cycles of progress and backlash, but with continuous adaptation and growth, its momentum may prove unstoppable. Steinem's long-standing visibility, Freedman added, provides continuity and underscores the ongoing nature of this work.