Gloria Steinem, Feminist Trailblazer and Ms. Magazine Co‑Founder, Dies at 92

Gloria Steinem, the journalist and activist who became one of the defining voices of second‑wave feminism, has died at 92, according to a statement on her verified Instagram account. She passed away in New York City, “surrounded by some of the many who loved her.”

Steinem spent more than six decades advocating for women’s rights, reproductive freedom, workplace equality, and social justice. Her activism and public presence made her one of the most recognizable figures in American feminism. She received numerous honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013.

Born in Toledo, Ohio, in 1934, Steinem came from a family with deep activist roots. After graduating from Smith College, she entered journalism in an era when women were routinely dismissed. Her early work included the 1963 undercover exposé “A Bunny’s Tale,” which revealed exploitative working conditions at the Playboy Club and launched her national profile.

Steinem joined New York Magazine in 1968, writing about politics, women’s issues, and the emerging feminist movement. She testified before Congress in support of the Equal Rights Amendment in 1970 and co‑founded the National Women’s Political Caucus the following year.

In 1972, she and Dorothy Pitman Hughes co‑founded Ms. Magazine, the first national feminist magazine run by women. It became a central platform for discussions of abortion rights, gender equality, and social reform.

Throughout her life, Steinem championed LGBTQ rights, anti‑war activism, and the voices of marginalized women. She faced criticism at times — including scrutiny over her participation in CIA‑funded youth events in the 1950s and her defense of Bill Clinton during the Lewinsky scandal — but remained a central figure in feminist discourse.

Steinem continued writing, speaking, and organizing well into her later years. Her memoir My Life on the Road was published in 2015, and her life inspired plays, films, and television portrayals. She even appeared as herself in And Just Like That… in 2023.

Her longtime New York City home became an informal archive of feminist organizing, and her foundation continues working to preserve her legacy.

Reflecting on her life, Steinem once said she never believed in “passing the torch,” insisting instead that “there are many torches,” and her role was simply to help light others.