Gloria Steinem, Face of American Feminism, Dies at 92

Gloria Steinem, the writer and activist who became the most recognizable face of the American women's movement, has died. She was 92. A post on her social media page confirmed that she passed away on Wednesday at her home in New York City, following a period of declining health.

Steinem's public life began in earnest in 1969 after she attended a meeting where women spoke about their illegal abortions. Having undergone the procedure herself in her twenties, the experience prompted a career shift from journalism to full-time activism. She would go on to lead the feminist movement for the next six decades.

In 1972, she co-founded Ms. Magazine, a publication dedicated to women's issues that many critics predicted would fail. It did not, and Steinem remained an advisor to the magazine for the rest of her life. She was also a prolific author, with a memoir completed shortly before her death and slated for release this fall.

Her friend and fellow activist, Abigail Disney, said that while Steinem had recently become physically frail, her wit and humor remained fully intact. Steinem was known for her sharp quips, once explaining her long singlehood by saying, "I can't mate in captivity."

Despite her public prominence, Steinem admitted to a deep fear of public speaking, which she said she overcame over time. She also expressed frustration that her appearance was often the focus of commentary, noting that she was never called beautiful until she became a public feminist in her mid-30s.

Steinem's advocacy extended beyond gender equality to issues like opposing apartheid and supporting abortion rights. She once said, "Being a feminist means that you see the world as whole instead of half. It shouldn't need a name, and one day it won't."