Gloria Steinem Biography

(American Feminist Journalist and Co-Founder of ‘Ms,' Magazine)

Birthday: March 25, 1934 (Aries)

Born In: Toledo, Ohio, United States

Gloria Marie Steinem is an American feminist, author, and journalist who played an influential role in the American feminist movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s. The leader and the spokesperson of the movement, her social activism helped in bringing about several significant changes in the western society. Steinem grew up witnessing first-hand the social injustices and inequalities faced by women as her mother was suffering from mental health issues but was denied the requisite social support she needed. Steinem attended the Smith College in Massachusetts, US and later spent two years in India. After her return to the US, she briefly and indirectly worked for the CIA before beginning her journalism career. She wrote articles for ‘Esquire,’ ‘Huntington Hartford,’ and ‘New York’ magazines. Steinem gained wide recognition after publishing an article titled ‘After Black Power, Women's Liberation’ in 1969. Having been involved in activism since 1959, when she organized the Independent Service for Information on the Vienna festival, advocating American participation in a Soviet-sponsored youth event, she has campaigned for Equal Rights Amendments and pro-choice activism, and against the Gulf War. In 1972, she co-established the feminist magazine ‘Ms.’ In 2005, she and her long-time friends Jane Fonda and Robin Morgan set up the Women's Media Center, an organization whose mission is “to make women visible and powerful in the media”. At present, Steinem is a world-renowned feminist icon and often serves as the keynote speaker at events organized on the subject.
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Quick Facts

Also Known As: Gloria Marie Steinem

Age: 90 Years, 90 Year Old Females

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: David Bale (m. 2000)

father: Leo Steinem

mother: Ruth Nuneviller

children: Christian Bale, Erin Bale, Louise Bale, Sharon Bale

Feminists Journalists

U.S. State: Ohio

Grouping of People: Jewish Journalist

Ancestry: German American, Polish American

City: Toledo, Ohio

More Facts

education: Smith College

  • 1

    What is Gloria Steinem known for?

    Gloria Steinem is known for her activism and leadership in the feminist movement, advocating for women's rights and gender equality.
  • 2

    What impact has Gloria Steinem had on society?

    Gloria Steinem has had a significant impact on society by raising awareness about women's issues, fighting for gender equality, and inspiring women around the world to stand up for their rights.
  • 3

    How did Gloria Steinem become involved in feminism?

    Gloria Steinem became involved in feminism through her experiences as a journalist and activist, where she witnessed firsthand the discrimination and injustices faced by women, motivating her to take a stand for gender equality.
  • 4

    What is Gloria Steinem's perspective on intersectional feminism?

    Gloria Steinem believes in the importance of intersectional feminism, which recognizes that women's experiences are shaped by multiple factors such as race, class, and sexuality, and advocates for inclusivity and solidarity among all women.
  • 5

    How has Gloria Steinem inspired future generations?

    Gloria Steinem has inspired future generations by fearlessly speaking out against sexism and discrimination, empowering women to embrace their voices and fight for equality, leaving a lasting legacy in the feminist movement.
Childhood & Early Life
Gloria Steinem was born on March 25, 1934 in Toledo, Ohio, as one of the two daughters of Ruth (née Nuneviller), a Presbyterian of mostly German (including Prussian) and some Scottish ancestry, and Leo Steinem, a son of Jewish immigrants who originally came from Germany and Poland. Her sister, Susanne Steinem Patch, is a renowned author in her own right.
She spent her childhood in the trailer which her father used to perform his trade as a travelling antique dealer. Her mother suffered a nervous breakdown at the age of 34 before she gave birth to Gloria. It drastically changed her, rendering her invalid and often trapped in violent delusional fantasies. Her parents separated in 1944 and Leo relocated to California while Gloria and Ruth stayed back in Toledo.
Surprisingly, she does not blame her father for the separation. In her later writings, she has stated that she “understood and never blamed him for the breakup.” However, it did have a significant effect on her and her personality in those formative years.
She started to believe that her mother could not hold on to a job because of the general hostility of the patriarchal society towards working women. Experiencing the general apathy of doctors towards her mother’s condition, she felt that it was the direct product of a similar anti-women animus. These experiences helped her conclude that women did not possess social and political equality.
She studied at the Waite High School in Toledo and later at the Western High School in Washington, D.C. After she graduated from high school, she enrolled at the Smith College where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
In the late 1950s, she travelled to India where she would spend the next two years of her life. She spent the time as a law clerk to Mehr Chand Mahajan, the Chief Justice of India.
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Career
When she came back to the US, Gloria Steinem was hired as the director of an organization named Independent Research Service, which, as it later turned out, was sponsored by the CIA. While she did admit having worked for the organization in the late 1950s and early 1960s, she vehemently denied any continued association in the 1970s. She wrote about her experience with the agency in her 2015 book ‘My Life on the Road.’
Her foray into the world of journalism occurred in 1960, when she landed a job at Warren Publishing’s ‘Help! Magazine’ as its first employee. In 1962, one of her most memorable pieces, ‘The Moral Disarmament of Betty Coed’ was published. The article, which dealt with the notion that women are forced to choose between a career and marriage, was groundbreaking, preceding Betty Friedan’s ‘The Feminine Mystique’ by a year.
In another famous article, printed as ‘A Bunny’s Tale’ in 1963 on Huntington Hartford's now-defunct ‘Show’ magazine, she wrote about her experience as a Playboy Bunny at the New York Playboy Club. In the article, she revealed how exploitative the working conditions of the bunnies were and how the demands made of them trudged the thin line on the edge of the law. Despite receiving much praise for the piece, she did not get any other assignment for months, which she attributed to the misgivings about her tenure as a bunny.
She interviewed John Lennon for ‘Cosmopolitan’ in 1964 and then served on the writing team for the NBC-TV's weekly satirical revue, ‘That Was The Week That Was’ (TW3). Eventually, Clay Felker, her editor during her time as a freelancer for Esquire, hired her at his New York magazine.
She gradually became one of the New York magazine’s most prolific writers. In 1969, she chose to cover an abortion speak-out. As she herself had undergone the ordeal at 22, she felt that the event needed to be recognized by the media. She also states that her “big click” happened at the event and prompted her to begin her life as an active feminist.
In 1972, Steinem, along with Dorothy Pitman Hughes, founded ‘Ms,’ a magazine with feminist aspirations. Debuting as a special edition for New York, its first issue became a considerable success, selling over 300,000 copies within eight days. In the following days, the number of subscribers steadily increased and the magazine received 20,000 reader letters. In 2001, a Virginia-based non-profit organization named Feminist Majority Foundation bought the magazine. Steinem is still involved with the magazine, serving on the advisory board.
On March 22, 1998, she had written a controversial piece where, while not directly speaking out against the Clinton accusers, she claimed that those incidents involving the then president were not necessarily sexual harassments. It drew criticism from every corner of the political spectrum. In 2017, she stated in an interview that while she doesn’t regret the piece, she “wouldn’t write the same thing now because there’s probably more known about other women now.”
Social Activism
Soon after returning from India, in 1959, Gloria Steinem participated in and led her first demonstration when she organized the Independent Service for Information on the Vienna festival, and urged Americans to take part in the World Youth Festival, which was funded by the Soviet Russia.
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In a protest against the Vietnam War, she pledged herself in 1968 to the "Writers and Editors War Tax Protest", where she and her fellow signatories promised to refuse tax payments.
Her 1969 article ‘After Black Power, Women's Liberation’ for the ‘New York’ magazine brought her to prominence in the feminist movement. Steinem and more than 300 other women set up the National Women's Political Caucus (NWPC). As one of the co-conveners, she delivered an historic speech which has come to be known as the ‘Address to the Women of America’.
Having grown up reading the ‘Wonder Woman’ comics, Steinem led a movement to restore her superpowers and traditional costume. They eventually began reappearing in the issue #204 (January–February 1973).
She was one of the most vocal critics of the First Gulf War and called the supposed objective of "defending democracy" a pretence. In 1992, she opened Choice USA, an America-based charity initiative that supports and lobbies for reproductive rights.
Due to her left-leaning political and social beliefs, she has voted primarily for Democratic candidates in the US national elections. She is the current honorary co-chairperson of the Democratic Socialists of America.
Awards & Achievements
Gloria Steinem was awarded the American Civil Liberties Union of South California’s Bill of Rights Award.
In 2012, she won the American Humanist Association’s Humanist of the Year Award.
The Ms Foundation for Women’s Gloria Awards were named so in her honor. They have been distributed annually since 1988.
The United Nations has conferred on her the Ceres Medal and Society of Writers Award.
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Steinem was the recipient of the highest civilian honor allocated to an American citizen, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in 2013.
In 2017, she received the Ban Ki-moon Award for Women’s Empowerment.
Personal Life
Gloria Steinem lost her father and mother in 1962 and 1980, respectively. In 1986, Steinem found out that she had breast cancer. She was also diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia in 1994.
She married South African-born British entrepreneur David Bale on September 3, 2000 at the home of Wilma Mankiller, her friend and the first female chief of the Cherokee nation. Through David, she is the stepmother of actor Christian Bale. David passed away due to brain lymphoma on December 30, 2003.
Facts About Gloria Steinem
In addition to her activism and writing, Gloria Steinem is also an avid gardener and finds solace and inspiration in spending time outdoors tending to her plants.
Despite her busy schedule, Gloria Steinem prioritizes self-care and regularly practices yoga and meditation to stay grounded and maintain balance in her life.
Gloria Steinem is known for her sense of humor and quick wit, often infusing her speeches and interviews with clever anecdotes and jokes that resonate with her audience.
As a lifelong lover of books and literature, Gloria Steinem has a personal library filled with a diverse collection of works spanning various genres and authors, reflecting her intellectual curiosity and passion for learning.

See the events in life of Gloria Steinem in Chronological Order

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