Guide Note

Gloria Steinem is an American feminist icon, award winning journalist and women's rights advocate. She has toured internationally to speak about gender, race and other civil equality issues. Steinem was one of the leading voices of the Women's Rights Movement in the 1960s and 1970s.¹

Fast Facts

1. Full name: Gloria Marie Steinem
2. Born: March 25, 1934
3. Birthplace: Toledo, Ohio
4. Attended Smith College
5. Ex-spouse: David Bale
6. Mother: Ruth Nuneviller
7. Father: Leo Steinem
8. Founder and original publisher of Ms. magazine¹
9. Co-convener of National Women's Political Caucus in 1971¹
10. Inducted into National Women's Hall of Fame in 1993¹

In 1963, Steinem worked as a Playboy Bunny in New York City's Playboy Club, where she conducted primary research on how women are treated in such establishments. The article, which was published in Show magazine, gained Steinem's notoriety in the area of women's rights. In 1972, Steinem co-founded Ms., which she wrote for until the publication was sold in 1987. In 2001, the magazine was bought by the Feminist Majority Foundation, and Steinem was once again a top editor of Ms.. Steinem has written a number of books on women's issues and self esteem.^{2 3}

Steinem has been an avid supporter of Hillary Rodham Clinton's political career for many years.⁴ However, in regards to Sarah Palin, John McCain's running mate in the 2008 election for President of the United States, Steinem vehemently opposes Palin's political views.⁵

"A liberated woman is one who has sex before marriage and a job after."⁶

"Most women's magazines simply try to mold women into bigger and better consumers."⁷

"We've begun to raise daughters more like sons... but few have the courage to raise our sons more like our daughters. "⁸

Hillary Iron My Shirt | Gender Pay Gap | Hillary Rodham Clinton | Jane Fonda | Cesar Chavez | Billie Jean King | Phyllis Schlafly | Betty Friedan | Ms Magazine | Equal Rights Amendment | Roe v. Wade | Redstockings | Operation Mockingbird