Journalist and activist Gloria Steinem, who dedicated her life to fighting for women's rights, passed away at the age of 92 on Wednesday. Following her death, notable figures from politics and pop culture have shared their remembrances and personal thanks to the feminist icon, vowing to continue her work.
Tributes from Political Leaders
Hillary Clinton, former Secretary of State and the first female presidential nominee of a major U.S. political party, expressed her admiration in a lengthy Facebook tribute. She stated, "She pushed open doors not just for herself, but for literally millions of women behind her." Clinton was joined by other prominent women in politics, including former First Lady Jill Biden, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and House Minority Whip Katherine Clark. Clark noted that she hung photos of Steinem and Dorothy Pitman Hughes in her office as a reminder of what is possible when women fight in solidarity.
“"She wasn't going to be an astronaut, but my goodness, she made it possible for Sally Ride to be an astronaut," Clinton wrote. "She wasn't going to play college sports, but she stood behind the women in Congress who passed Title IX and opened up opportunities in sports and academics for girls."
Steinem's Impact on Feminism
Steinem emerged as a leading face of second-wave feminism in the 1960s and co-founded both the National Women's Political Caucus and Ms. magazine in the following decade. She helped normalize discussions about workplace sexism and abortion, famously sharing her experience of obtaining an abortion abroad in the 1950s. Her efforts contributed to increasing the number of women in elected office and bringing feminism into the mainstream.
