Gloria Steinem (1934-present) is a feminist icon known for her incredible reporting skills and tireless activism. She created several organizations that still provide vital work for the support of women, and she continues to be a voice for women’s rights today.
Every weekday, listeners explore the trials, tragedies, and triumphs of groundbreaking women throughout history who have dramatically shaped the world around us. In each 5 minute episode, we’ll dive into the story behind one woman listeners may or may not know -- but definitely should. These diverse women from across space and time are grouped into easily accessible and engaging monthly themes like Leading Ladies, Activists, STEMinists, Hometown Heroes, and many more. Encyclopedia Womannica is hosted by WMN co-founder and award-winning journalist Jenny Kaplan. The bite-sized episodes pack painstakingly researched content into fun, entertaining, and addictive daily adventures.
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Hello! From Wonder Media Network, I’m Jenny Kaplan, and this is Encyclopedia Womannica.
We’re concluding this month of Womannica with a feminist icon known for her incredible reporting skills and tireless activism. She created several organizations that still provide vital work for the support of women, and she continues to be a voice for women’s rights today. Let’s talk about the unstoppable Gloria Steinem.
Gloria Steinem was born March 25, 1934 in Toledo, Ohio. Her father was a traveling salesman, which meant Gloria didn’t regularly attend school when she was young. Instead, her mother tutored her on the road and encouraged Gloria’s love of books.
When Gloria was 10 years old, her parents divorced. Her mother soon started suffering from a mental illness that caused hallucinations and difficulty functioning. This required Gloria to become a full-time caretaker. Gloria later remarked that her childhood caused her to grow up too soon, and instilled a determination to overcome every obstacle.
Gloria’s older sister returned home after graduating from high school to help take care of their mother, allowing 15-year-old Gloria to attend Smith College in Massachusetts, where she studied government. After graduating with honors in 1956, Gloria earned a fellowship that allowed her to study in India for two years.
Gloria’s time in India was the catalyst for her love of grassroots activism. There, she traveled with local women to fight against injustices like selling low-caste women into marriage, and she absorbed the writings of Mahatma Gandhi.
When Gloria returned to the U.S., she started working as a freelance journalist in New York. She was writing in an era where newsrooms and editorial desks were run almost entirely by white men. This relegated women to writing lifestyle or fashion pieces. Gloria’s career was no different at first. She frequently tried to suggest political ideas, but editors shut her down time and time again.
In 1963, Gloria gained national attention when Show magazine hired her to go undercover at a Playboy Club to report on the working conditions there. At the time, waitressing at Playboy Clubs was advertised as a glamorous, exciting career opportunity for young women. However, Gloria’s expose “I Was a Playboy Bunny” revealed the sexist, underpaid, overworked nature of the job.
Though this legendary article made Gloria a household name, she initially struggled to be taken seriously as a reporter afterward. Despite this, Gloria strived to build her career, and in 1968 she helped found New York Magazine.
As an editor and political writer at New York Magazine, Gloria covered campaigns and social issues like the women’s liberation movement. Her involvement in the movement quickly went beyond that of a passive reporter. In 1969, she spoke publicly at an event advocating the legalization of abortion in New York. There, she shared the personal story of an abortion she had at age 22.
Gloria became a sought after speaker at women’s liberation protests and events. She became a spokesperson for the movement and a tireless advocate for women’s rights.
In 1970, feminist activists staged an 11-hour sit-in on the magazine Ladies Home Journal. One hundred women marched into the office and protested the majority-male staff’s sexist writing and refusal to cover women’s rights issues. After this landmark event, Gloria knew there was a place for a women’s movement magazine. She teamed up with fellow journalists Patricia Carbine and Letty Cottin Pogrebin to create Ms. Magazine in 1971.
Ms. was initially an insert into New York Magazine, but by 1972 it became an entity of its own. Gloria would be a writer and editor for the magazine for 15 years.
Gloria toured the country as a speaker, led protests, and teamed up with fellow feminists like Shirley Chisholm and Betty Friedan to create the National Women’s Political Caucus. The NWPC raises money, provides training, and gathers volunteers for women candidates at state and local levels.
Gloria also helped found organizations including the Women’s Action Alliance, the Women’s Media Center, Voters for Choice, and the Ms. Foundation for women. She also helped create “Take Our Daughters to Work Day” in the 90’s, which was an effort to show a variety of career opportunities to young girls.
Gloria has written several books, including the best-selling memoir My Life on the Road. The book details Gloria’s childhood and development as an activist alongside the burgeoning women’s liberation movement.
Gloria has received many honors and accolades for her activism. In 2013, President Obama granted Gloria the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 2017, Rutgers University created The Gloria Steinem Endowed Chair in Media, Culture, and Feminist Studies.
Gloria Steinem is a prominent and passionate activist for women everywhere who has helped to expand the opportunities available to women and girls across the country.
This concludes our month all about activists, but join us tomorrow, October 1st, for the beginning of a brand new theme: Politicians.
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Talk to you tomorrow!