Gloria Steinem, groundbreaking feminist campaigner, dies aged 92
Gloria Steinem, the American feminist and journalist whose activism helped advance women's rights around the world, has died aged 92 at her home in New York City.
Gloria Steinem, the American feminist and journalist whose activism helped push through greater rights for women around the world, has died aged 92. Steinem passed away peacefully at her home in New York City, surrounded by some of the many who loved her, according to a statement shared on her Instagram page. Her foundation announced the death in a post on the social media platform.
Steinem was the most visible symbol and potent voice of the United States women's movement in the 1960s and 1970s and a fierce advocate for feminist causes for the rest of her life. As a prolific author and co-founder of Ms. Magazine, she campaigned against domestic violence, female genital mutilation, pornography and the Vietnam and Gulf wars. Her work helped shape public debate on gender equality across several decades.
Tributes have poured in from prominent figures, including Hillary Clinton, who said Steinem's activism was rooted in optimism. The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan, also paid tribute to her friend and mentor, describing the late campaigner as an influential figure in her life. Steinem was widely known for her sharp commentary on social issues, including her observation that society badly needs to raise boys more like girls.
Born into a family with a strong sense of social justice, Steinem began her career as a journalist before becoming a leading voice of second-wave feminism. She co-founded Ms. Magazine in 1972, giving the movement a national platform that reached millions of readers. The publication became a cornerstone of feminist media and helped bring issues such as workplace equality, reproductive rights and domestic violence into mainstream conversation.
Throughout her career, Steinem travelled extensively, both in the United States and abroad, speaking at rallies, universities and political events. She was instrumental in the creation of the National Women's Political Caucus and the Women's Action Alliance, organisations designed to increase female participation in politics and public life. Her 1969 article about working as an undercover Playboy Bunny, which exposed the exploitation of women in the entertainment industry, is still regarded as a landmark piece of investigative journalism.
Steinem remained active well into her later years, continuing to write, lecture and support emerging feminist movements. She was a vocal critic of the Iraq war and campaigned for equal pay and against sexual harassment long before the issue became a global talking point. Her memoir, My Life on the Road, published in 2015, offered a personal account of her decades of activism and the connections she built with women across the world.
Her death marks the end of an era for the feminist movement, which she helped transform from a fringe cause into a mainstream political force. Steinem's influence extended far beyond the United States, inspiring generations of campaigners in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. Her legacy is likely to endure through the institutions she helped build and the countless activists she mentored over six decades of public life.
