Gloria Steinem

“Writing is the only thing that, when I do it, I don’t feel I should be doing something else.” — Gloria Steinem, Ms., July 1978

Gloria Steinem (1934-2026), the feminist icon who died on September 2, 2026, at age 92, reshaped the very fabric of American society by transforming feminism into a mainstream national movement. For an entire generation of women who came of age during the second-wave feminist movement of the 1960s and 1970s, she was not just a leader; she was the face, the voice, and the validation of women’s rights and struggles. She co-founded Ms. magazine in 1972, fought for reproductive freedom, same-sex marriage, and equal pay, and reframed ideas of equality across race, ethnicity, and gender. Steinem, who began her career in New York as a journalist covering social and political issues, published 11 books. We recommend places to start.

Where to Start
Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions
Essays
By Gloria Steinem (1983)
These relatable, passionate essays blend sharp cultural criticism, feminist philosophy, and personal experience. Written over two decades, they offer a portrait of Steinem as a young woman and an exploration of systemic sexism. “I Was a Playboy Bunny” (1963), one of her most famous essays, is a hilarious, scathing undercover exposé of degrading working conditions at Manhattan’s “greatest new showbiz gimmick,” the Playboy Club, where, at age 29, she spent 11 days undercover in a skimpy Bunny costume. Other essays recount growing up with a mentally ill mother in the 1940s; analyze the difference between pornography and erotica; profile Marilyn Monroe, Patricia Nixon, Linda Lovelace, Jackie Kennedy Onassis, and Alice Walker; and ponder what would happen “If Men Could Menstruate." In 1983, the New York Times wrote, “Today, reading Miss Steinem's essays, written over two decades and collected for the first time, one is struck by their intelligence, restraint and common sense, as well as by the energetic and involved life they reflect. … Her views, like her writing itself, are characterized by engaging qualities of unpretentious clarity and forceful expression.” 

Revolution from Within 
A Book of Self-Esteem
By Gloria Steinem (1992)
This bestselling self-help book, though it received its share of criticism, isn’t just for feminists or political philosophers; instead, it focuses on self-esteem and personal empowerment as tools for social change. Charting her own journey toward self-esteem through therapy, meditation, and more, Steinem shows that one’s inner self, career, and power are inextricably connected. Drawing on history, psychology, and personal anecdotes, Steinem argues that social equality requires valuing oneself. She reflects on her own insecurities, burnout, and childhood caretaker dynamics, using interviews and analysis to show that self-worth is the single key factor for change. Conversely, low self-esteem reinforces systemic inequality, and political liberation remains empty without internal healing. As the New York Times wrote, “Those who like their icons to stay on pedestals will be discomfited by Ms. Steinem's candid personal revelations. … Though it recommends feminist reform in education and the like, the emphasis falls on personal change, accomplished through exercises (including yogic breathing, painting, writing) along with guided meditation.” 

My Life on the Road 
By Gloria Steinem (2015)
Steinem dedicated this warm, humbling memoir to Dr. John Sharpe of London, who, a decade before the 1967 Abortion Act, referred her, then 22, for an abortion. He asked her to promise two things: “First, you will not tell anyone my name. Second, you will do what you want to do with your life.” Here, she chronicles her five decades as a traveler, a “wandering organizer,” a listener, and an activist advocating for grassroots change. Steinem explains how being on the road shaped her ideas about equality, feminism, politics, and social change. Instead of following a traditional chronological autobiography, she shares stories about the people she met, the places she visited (including India), and the lessons she learned through listening to others. She describes her involvement in political campaigns, the women’s movement, and grassroots activism. Steinem also reflects on her itinerant childhood, especially the influence of her father, a traveling antiques salesman who rarely kept the family in one place. Throughout, Steinem shows how travel helped her understand diverse communities and strengthened her belief that social change begins when people communicate, organize, and learn from one another. The New Republic wrote that “There is something undeniably romantic about Steinem’s itinerant way of life; she’s the female variant of Jack Kerouac, the happy alternative to Thelma and Louise’s doomed road trip—driven by a love of adventure but also a profound and ultimately successful political mission.” ​