Gloria Steinem is a well-known feminist, political activist, and writer who was born in Toledo, Ohio in 1934. She entered Smith College on scholarship and began her political activism there. Steinem’s difficulty finding a journalism job fueled her ideas of feminism. She documented the exploitation of Playboy bunnies in her work, “A Bunny’s Tale.” Steinem helped start the National Women’s Caucus and Women’s Action Alliance, and in 1972 she started Ms. magazine. Steinem’s work has focused on achieving true equality between men and women, eliminating discrimination against women in the workforce and their sexual exploitation. She continues to work towards this goal today, with a focus on how men can change to eliminate social inequalities women face. Steinem believes that American feminism should not dictate the feminist movement around the world.
Feminist, political activist and writer, Gloria Steinem is a well-known public figure. Born March 25, 1934, she was raised in Toledo, Ohio. Despite a difficult childhood, Gloria Steinem entered Smith College on scholarship, where she began her political activism. After graduation, she spent two years studying in India, then she returned to the United States to become a journalist.
Difficulty finding a position, while a plethora of journalism jobs were available to men, fueled Gloria Steinem’s ideas of feminism. One of her best known works is “A Bunny’s Tale:“ Show’s ”First Expose for Intelligent People”, in which she documented the exploitation of Playboy bunnies, poor women who worked in a luxurious club of rich men. Steinem’s writings on feminism have been complemented by her work in the political arena. In 1971, Gloria Steinem helped start the National Women’s Caucus and Women’s Action Alliance, organizations that enable women’s voices to be better heard. In 1972, while she was covering George McGovern’s presidential campaign, she started the feminist publication Ms. magazine, for which she remains an editor to this day.
Gloria Steinem’s work has special significance as she defined the feminist movement encapsulated in the protests against the Vietnam War and the civil rights movement. Plus, she wasn’t afraid to challenge the status quo. During the 1972 Democratic Convention, Steinem drew attention to women’s issues, particularly that of abortion. She also questioned the position of the delegates, the majority of whom were white males. The goal of Steinem’s work was to achieve true equality between men and women, which required the elimination of discrimination against women in the workforce and their sexual exploitation.
Gloria Steinem continues to work towards this goal today, even though the focus of her work has changed. In the past, Steinem has focused on bringing women’s issues to light, along with any indication of inequality. She encouraged women to pursue careers and political activism in the same way as men, while simultaneously underlining the basic premise of feminism: a woman’s right to choose how she lives.
Currently, Steinem’s work has shifted to focus on how men can change to eliminate the social inequalities women continue to face. Why can’t men stay at home and take care of the children? With the speed of globalization, Steinem is also turning to international feminism. Gloria Steinem believes that American feminism should not dictate the feminist movement around the world.
Over 40 years of activism has only made Gloria Steinem more optimistic about the changes that can be achieved. In an interview with Ms. magazine, she commented, “Changes depend on what you and I do every day.” Gloria Steinem is currently working on a book detailing the roots of American feminism.
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