Is Gloria Steinem Feminist Movement Activism Still Relevant In Today’s Society?

Gloria Steinem, the iconic journalist and feminist organizer who defined second-wave movement leadership, has died at 92, leaving a lasting global legacy of activism, equal representation, and civil rights defense.

The passing of Gloria Steinem at the age of 92 has left an irreparable void in the world. As an active journalist in the late 1960s, she sought to bring to attention the little-known suffering that women had to endure day in and day out. Rather than engage in more convenient jobs, she went on to conduct undercover investigations as part of the Gloria Steinem feminist movement and co-founded the Ms. Magazine to address the issues that the media preferred to overlook: equal pay and women's right to bodily autonomy, among others. The news of her death was received on September 2, and it was quickly followed by condolences from all corners of the globe, demonstrating the extent of her contribution to the elimination of long-standing biases toward gender equality and human rights.

Decades of Grassroots Mobilization and Legal Advocacy

Steinem was not particularly interested in theoretical reasoning about activism and social advocacy; she was more inclined to direct interactions with ordinary people. Throughout her 60 years of activism, she brought together various social groups and emphasized the fact that real political power is created from the grassroots rather than imposed from above.

• Created the National Women’s Political Caucus in 1971 to promote women in politics.

• Advocated for the Constitution’s provisions on women’s equality and worked on the issue of healthcare access.

Legal Advocates and Activists Celebrate Her Achievements

In reflecting on the life of her longtime friend and partner, civil rights attorney Gloria Allred described Steinem’s ability to engage a large crowd while making the individual voices of her audience members heard. Steinem was blessed with an extraordinary talent for listening and was known for allowing others to take centre stage while being the driving force behind the scenes.

This idea was echoed in the statement by the organization she founded, which remarked, “Gloria’s greatest gift was her gift of being able to listen to others and make them feel valued.”

This kindness and the desire to help those who required assistance motivated a number of regular citizens to get involved and improve their communities.

Promoting Intersectionality and Global Reproductive Rights

Before the adoption of concepts such as intersectionality in politics, Steinem had already pointed out that race, class, and gender were interrelated and there was no point in separating women’s issues from larger issues of struggle for racial and economic justice.

• Took action against human trafficking and domestic violence through cooperation with international human rights organizations.

• Conducted local talking circles to help grassroots activists formulate national agenda.

The Effects of Global Gender Equality Movements

Through her reflection on life experiences, Steinem has made it possible for people to change the discourse around equity, dignity, and choice. She demonstrated that stories narrated in a simple and honest way have the potential to challenge deeply-rooted cultural biases faster than any academic lecture. According to CIO Bulletin, Steinem’s legacy will be forever cherished as an example of how one powerful voice can impact the course of social history.