American journalist, author and feminist trailblazer Gloria Steinem has died at the age of 92, marking the loss of one of the most influential figures in the modern women’s rights movement.
Steinem died on Wednesday, September 2, at her home in New York City, surrounded by family and friends, according to her foundation. No cause of death was disclosed.
Steinem rose to prominence as a journalist in the 1960s before becoming a defining voice of the women’s liberation movement. Her 1963 undercover investigation into working conditions at New York’s Playboy Club brought her national attention and highlighted the discrimination faced by women in the workplace.
Her activism expanded after a 1969 meeting where women openly discussed their experiences with abortion, prompting Steinem to move increasingly from journalism into political organising and public advocacy.
In 1971, she co-founded Ms. Magazine, which became a powerful platform for debates on gender equality, reproductive rights, workplace discrimination and other issues affecting women. A year later, she helped establish the National Women’s Political Caucus to increase women’s participation in American politics.
For more than five decades, Steinem travelled widely, speaking at universities, conferences, rallies and demonstrations while campaigning for women’s political, economic and social rights.
Her influence extended beyond the United States, inspiring generations of activists and helping reshape public discussions about gender equality and women’s rights.
Steinem received numerous honours during her lifetime, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013. She remained active in feminist advocacy well into her 90s and was preparing to publish a new memoir, An Unexpected Life, later this month.
Her death closes the chapter on a remarkable life that helped transform feminism from a growing social movement into a powerful force for political and cultural change.
