The Rock We Didn’t Expect to Lose: Remembering Gloria Steinem
I felt as though I had lost one of my best friends!
This was my almost immediate emotion upon learning of the passing of Gloria Steinem on Wednesday September 2, 2026.
It was my second reaction after my immediate, spontaneous one of shock. Even at the age of 92, I had the subconscious sense that Gloria would live forever!
Gloria was solid; Gloria was a fighter; Gloria would be there like a rock! We —women and men—need her!
Wild thoughts, right?
Maybe not.
I found the same sentiment in a Katie Couric interview with Cindy Levy, a close friend of the pioneering activist and journalist, on the day of the passing.
Cindy remarked: “even though knowing people die, we thought Gloria would live forever.”
Gloria does—and will—live forever, though: she will live each time a woman opens a credit card account in her own name (without alsoneeding a man’s signature) or signs a lease or mortgage similarly. Or does one or ten or so many other things we now take for granted, but that were barred to us as women just a few generations ago in the 1950s.
It might be obvious to ask as many have:
What did Gloria Steinem gain for women?
More surprisingly, we must also ask:
What did Gloria gain for men?
The answers lie in what being a feminist meant to Gloria.
The Prison of Gender Roles
For decades, critics and headlines tried to frame Gloria's work as a battle where women gained ground only at the expense of men.
But Gloria’s vision of equality was never exclusive. It was expansive.
Her core philosophy was perfectly captured in this statement in her landmark 1983 book, Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions:
“A feminist is anyone
who recognizes the
equality and full humanity of women
and men."
Did you notice that she didn't stop at "women?" To Gloria, feminism was never about building a wall between the genders; it was about breaking down the walls that trap both of them.
Gloria Steinem understood that the rigid, traditional expectations placed on men, such as the demand to suppress emotion and the pressure of being the sole financial support in the traditional family, were just as damaging as the restrictions placed on women.
As Gloria observed later in life:
"Once men realize that the gender roles are a prison for them too, then they become really valuable allies. Because they're not just helping someone else, they're freeing themselves."
What Gloria Gained For All of Us.
Freedom.
Gloria Steinem helped women gain critical financial independence and legal protections against workplace discrimination. [1, 2]
She challenged sexist assumptions, helping women develop a sense of self-worth and gain a measure of equality at work, at home and in society at large, wrote Katharine Q. Seelye in The New York Times on the day after her passing.
As a bold leader of the women's liberation movement, Steinem used her voice and writing to change laws and shift public views. [1, 2]
Workplace Equality
Fair Pay: She fought against lower pay for women doing the same jobs as men.
Ending Job Segregation: She challenged job advertisements that were split into separate "men" and "women" sections.
Typical Help Wanted Ads
Sexual Harassment: She helped bring public attention to workplace harassment, giving a name and a voice to an issue that was previously ignored.
You can read more about her historical reporting and impact via PBS NewsHour.[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
Workplace Oppression Exposed: Undercover as a Playboy Bunny.
In ???, Gloria went undercover to expose the working conditions of Hugh Heffner’s Playboy Bunnies. She applied to work as one of the bunnies.
She got the job.
It promised pay of $200-$300 a week. What she found was enough to expose horrendous working conditions—and certainly not the pay that was promised.
Political Voice
Co-Founded Groups: She helped start the National Women's Political Caucus in 1971 to help elect more women to government office.
Spreading the Message: She co-founded Ms. magazine in 1972 to give women a space to discuss sexism, health, and equality. [1, 2, 3]
For men, Gloria also sought a new perspective for them: to be viewed as full human beings rather than mere protectors or providers, and able to freely express emotions as they feel them.
I would say she helped detox the public sentiment, such as “big boys don’t cry,” twisting it to a freer view: “Big boys do—and are allowed to—this natural human system for emotions.”
Basically Gloria Steinem helped women gain the space to be fierce, and men the space to be vulnerable.
She didn't just fight to liberate half the world. She fought to humanize all of it.
She altered the very fabric of our daily lives.
Every independent financial decision a woman makes today is a living monument to Gloria’s life’s work.
And then there was (and still is):
Ms. Magazne
At Last, I Know I'm Not Alone"
I felt this shift in the cultural landscape intimately. when, in January 1972, a test preview issue of Ms. Magazine hit the newsstands.
A few years earlier, a smaller similar version had been put out as a test run as an insert in New York Magazine. The magazine with its insert was sold out almost immediatley.
The stand-alone preview issue, however, was also a test. Not being sure of their market, the founders labeled It the “1972 Spring “just in case it didn’t sell. I
t sold out immediately. I purchased that preview issue and signed up to receive the monthly issues going forward,
It was a lifesaver! the issues of that first preview flew off the newsstands again.
Those early issues were — and are —treasures. Cindy Levy mentioned to Katie Couic in the interview mentioned above that she still has “an unhealthy’ trove of Ms. Magazines.
I still have my original, treasured preview issue from Spring 1972.
You might enjoy Jane O’Reilly’s signature articel: “The Housewife’s Moment of Truth.”
Opening the pages that first preview issue back then felt like discovering the words for things that I felt but could never quite articulate. It was that way with many of us.
C-R Grouups
At about the same time in 1972, I joined a Consciousness-raising Group. We rotating meetings in the living rooms of the suburban omen in the group
We sat in circles.
We all had the same list of discussion starter questions, which were designed to uncover patterns in our lives and, therefby, realizing that our personal struggles were not solely ours.
They were actually deeply political.
We would ask things like:
"What is a 'nice girl'—and were you allowed to be anything else?"
"What hopes do you have for your daughter versus your son? Are they different, and if so, why?"
Answering those questions together shattered the isolation we didn't even know we were carrying.
The lifespan of a C-R Group was meant to be about a year, designed to motivate us to activism when the group ultimately disbanded.
It was very clearly stated at the outset that the C-R group “was not therapy.” It was to raise awareness and overcome isolation.
My C-R group met for its year, and I then joined the Huntington, NY chapter of the National Organization for Women. I was initially asked to chair the Image of Women Committee, which I did. then I was tapped to chair the Education Committee because I was a teacher.
Decades later, Gloria remained vigilant in her view of the value and meeting in person and discussing in what she called "Talking Circles."
She held them right in the living room of her own home in Manhattan.
And she was still hosting the Talking Circles high up to a few weeks prior to her passing!
Gloria Steinem didn’t cook in her Upper East Side apartment, but she hosted gatherings with takeout or catered food.
Credit: Gia McKenna / Gloria’s Foundation
Gloria strongly believed:
“Gathering is how we process things.
Gatherings of women. Talking Circles.
Katie Couric: Not only was everyone welcome [to those Talking Circles], everyone felt free to talk and share . A beautiful way to welcome people. Everyone was seen.
Gloria’s gift was that, when you were talking to her, you felt that you were the only person in the world.
She really listened.
~~~~~~
Reproductive Rights:
What must be included here is that Gloria did fight for reproductive freedom for women.
I will leave this up to you and your own conscience to search the internet and read about her arguments—and to embrace how you feel about this aspect of her work and views.
Humility—No Solo Politics:
There is an important note to highlight about Gloria’s leadership in the women’s movement.
She did not appreciate people giving her all the credit. She fiercely resisted being placed on a pedestal as the "sole leader" of the women's liberation movement.
She always reminded the world that she was part of a rich, diverse tapestry of thinkers and organizers.
For example:
Ms. Magazine itself was co-founded alongside such wonderful people as activist Robin Morgan, writer Letty Cottin Pogrebin, and the child welfare advocate and Black feminist Dorothy Pitman Hughes
Left: The famous 1971 photo of Gloria Steinem and Dorothy Pitman Hughes with their firsts raised.
Right: In 2013, to mark Gloria’s 80th birthday, Dorothy commissioned a portrait reenacting that iconic 1971 photo.(Bagan Photography)
When Gloria became involved in politics, she helped form the National Women's Political Caucus in 1971. During that time she marched shoulder-to-shoulder with giants like Shirley Chisholm, Bella Abzug, and Betty Friedan.
~~~~~~
AWARDS
—PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM
Presidential Medal of Freedom (2013): Awarded by President Barack Obama as the highest civilian honor in the United States for her trailblazing activism. [1, 2]
Princess of Asturias Award (2021): One of Spain's most prestigious international awards, recognizing her decades-long dedication to feminism and human rights. [1, 2]
National Women's Hall of Fame (1993): Inducted for her foundational role in the modern feminist movement. [1, 2]
Library of Congress Living Legend (2000): Honored for making significant contributions to America's diverse cultural, scientific, and social heritage. [1]
Freedom Award (2019): Presented by the National Civil Rights Museum for her lifelong pursuit of equality and civil rights. [1]
Eleanor Roosevelt Val-Kill Medal (2014): Acknowledged for her commitment to ideals of social justice and global human rights. [1, 2]
Journalism and Media Awards
Emmy Award (1993): Won for co-producing and narrating the HBO documentary Multiple Personalities: The Search for Deadly Memories.
Penney-Missouri Journalism Award (1970): Recognized for excellence in lifestyle and social journalism.
National Magazine Awards: Honored multiple times for her groundbreaking feature writing and editing at Ms. magazine.
Lifetime Achievement in Journalism (1990s/2000s): Conferred by organizations including the Society of Professional Journalists. [1, 2, 3, 4]
~~~~~~
Gloria knew that a movement is never a solo act; it is a collective circle that must always grow wider.
Carry Your Own Torch
Asked of Gloria often, especially lately:
To whom are you passing on your torch?
I’m not giving up my torch. Other people will have torches too.
They signal travelers on hills to light the way.
In recent years, as she was approaching the age of 90, when she was often asked about passing on her torch, Gloria’s reply was always: "I’m keeping my torch."
To paraphrase her brilliant response: You all need to carry your own similar torches. With more torches, the light will be greater.
And so, now we all—women and men—must take inspiration from her torch and carry it forward ourselves!
Carrying the torch to a new generation of teens.
In March 2019, when I was the co-moderator of the World Youth Alliance Club in the high school where I was also a religion teacher, my co-moderator (another faculty member in the religion department) and I took the girls in the club (with their parents’ or guardians’ permission) to see the off-Broadway play about Gloria Steinem.
The play was entitled Gloria, A Life. It was written by Emily Mann.
Off-Broadwy play “Gloria, A Life.”
The stage was the carpet-covered floor, which was surrounded by the audience seats, on which colorful pillows served as backrests.
The theatrical set mimicked one large “Talking Circle.”
Lively audience sharing of stories followed after the show.
With hesitation, I too spoke up. I shared my own feminist story.
The girls had a magnificent time, loved the play, and were inspired by what they had learned about Gloria Steinem!
~~~~~
At this point, I must mention another odd coincidence to add to the one on my previous post honoring Dolly Parton. The oddity occurred just three days after Gloria’s passing.
Not only did the deaths of Dolly and Gloria occur oddly enough within a week of each other, but Robin Morgan , who was not only a co-founder of Ms. Magazinge, but was also a bold feminist activist in her own right. Of her many books, three stand out to me, the anthologies entitled: Sisterhood is Powerful, Sisterhood is Global, and Sisterhood is Forever.
With the sentiment of one writer to another, Gloria had added a statement about Robin at the end of her 2017 book, Gloria Steinem: My Life of the Road.
Gloria’s final words in the Gratitudes Section were:
“Finally, I thank Robin Morgan for reminding me, even when the road was causing me to write the least, that there is no better moment in life than finding the right word.”
This sentiment by Gloria brings to my mind Dolly Parton’s discussion of the joy — and surprise — in finding the word “ambition” to rhyme with “kitchen” in her song “9 to 5”. ]It is the creative process writ large
And the oddity?
All three of these feminist-leaning women died within a week and a half of each other.
And so, we remember with gratitude:
Dolly Parton—August 25, 2026—for her kindness and generosity.
Gloria Steinem—September 2, 2026—for her wisdom and activism
Robin Morgan —September 5, 2026—for her bravery and boldness.
This coincident had to have been a cosmic event with a message!
Three Women
All feminists, all fighters for justice.
And their love of all of us—women and men— is the bond.
~~~~~~
With our current national and global situation as it is thus; where we seem to be going backward and we are losing in so many areas where Gloria had worked so hard to make strides for women.
In closing, it is significcant that Gloria referred to herself as a “hope-aholic!”.
She could never give up hope!
At one of her
Talking Circle” meetings held in her own home, Gloria said,
“It’s the role of the older generation to be hopeful (because they knew how far they had come)—and it’s the role of the younger generation to be mad as hell.”
Gloria also said:
A feminist is someone who believes in the social. political and economic equality and that
Women are people.
She put out a clarion call for people to be feminists,
because
Everybody should be free to live and act the way htey want. Men are unfree too.
Feminism is good for all people.
Ferminism is for everybody.
Feminism is a mass movement.
Acknowledgment that criticism was warranted in that first-and second- wave feminism because they snubbed and ignored Black women.
Gloria embraced diversity.
Even back in the 1970s, she was asked to speak she would always insist on appearing with a woman of color, acutely aware of the privilege she got from being a white woman.
Gloria’s words:
“Voting isn’t the most we can do, but it is the least. —p.171, on the road.”
~~~~~~~
Our Rock
Gloria may no longer be here physically to act as our rock, but she spent 92 years showing us how to stand on our own.
She didn't want us to wait for her light to pass to us. She wanted us to look at the fire she built and use it to ignite our own flames.
Her light isn't gone; it has multiplied. It is now in the hands of everyone—women and men alike—who believe in full humanity. Let’s keep the light burning.
Rest in power, Gloria. Thank you for lighting the road for us.
COMMENTS ON PREVIOUS POSTS
Previous Post: “9 to 5” —Dolly Parton, a Labor Day Tribute”Written by Anne Andersson, September 4, 2026
—”I just read your CWED tribute to Dolly. Excellent as always! I will look forward to the CWED piece on [Gloria Steinem].”—MW
—”Anne, that was such a wonderful article about Dolly Parton. She was such a generous person, giving time & money to help children and other worthy causes. It is such a loss for all.” —Barbara
— “I loved the post! What an amazing person she was!!! ❤️❤️❤️I loved the part about “The film was directly inspired by a real-life grassroots labor movement called 9to5.” 👏👏👏
—MA
Previous Post: “9/11 — 25 years and Counting.” Written by Anne Andersson, September 11, 2026
— Great post! Very moving and thought-provoking.” —CA
—”Thank you. This is just as powerful today as the first time I saw it.” —RE
__”Very moving, Anne. Thank you and thank Sr. Eileen. Brings this day of sad memories to a fitting close. Amen 🙏” —MVT
—”Really powerful! I remember you showing me the Shutterfly book but your post really hits home! 😔❤️ “ —MA
—This was so beautifully written 🙏🏻 —OF
Support our work:
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Let’s continue the talking circle.
Gloria believed that true change starts when we sit together, listen, and speak our truths.
Whether you were in a consciousness-raising group yourself in the '70s and were sitting in a circle sharing your story, or you are discovering Goria Steinem’s work today,
we would love to hear from you.
Is there one way Gloria’s legacy—the fight for full humanity—has touched your own life?
Share your reflections in the comments below. 👇
