Feminist, Fun and Fierce Forever: Gloria Steinem Influenced Millions
Gloria Steinem (center), and Take The Lead Team at the 2018 “Gloria, A Life” event.
She was the F word.
Gloria Steinem embodied, embraced and shared the mission of feminism globally for millions of women in many generations around the world who --because of her influence--knew they could become whom they wanted to be.
Read more from Gloria Feldt on Gloria Steinem here
The co-founder of Ms. Magazine and the Women's Action Alliance, passed this week at 92 years old. The author of nine books, she touched the lives of women and girls with hope, optimism, determination, support and a new definition of what it means to be female. First, second, third, fourth wave and post-feminists owe her immense gratitude.
Her alignment with Take The Lead because of her close friendship with Gloria Fedlt, co-founder and president of Take The Lead, gave more possibilities to interact and learn from the journalist, author, advocate and feminist I have admired since I was a girl.
“We’re communal creatures. We can’t operate alone. Ask for support from others. It’s a gift to the person you ask.“ Steinem said those uplifting words and many more in a Take The Lead Virtual Happy Hour interview with Feldt in August, 2015.
“We’re communal creatures. We can’t operate alone. Ask for support from others. It’s a gift to the person you ask,“ said @GloriaSteinem @takeleadwomen”
“It’s about using your voice, asking for what you need, instilling what you want in everything you do,” Steinem said.
Read more here about Gloria Steinem’s influence
In a December 4, 2018 Take The Lead blog, I wrote about Steinem’s influence on me as an author and journalist.
In 1984, I interviewed Gloria Steinem for a profile for the Dallas Times Herald, where I was a feature writer and columnist. She was on book tour for her 1984 book, Outrageous Acts And Everyday Rebellions.
I was a fan, not just of her writing and journalism, but of her bravery and activism. She was larger than life to me and every 26-year-old woman like me, plus the millions of women and men older and younger than me who saw her as the one who helped launch the modern feminist movement.
She came into the office and I do not know why I was surprised, but Steinem carried a small purse. Queen Elizabeth carries a purse, yes, but you don’t expect one of the founders of feminism to cart a handbag to an interview. So I asked what was in her purse.
I wrote the story starting with a description of the insides of her purse, including a tube of lip balm. A few weeks later at the newspaper offices, I received a handwritten note from Steinem thanking me for the interview and saying she liked the way I started the story.”
Steinem often spoke about the power of such moments and connection. “The moment is the only time you can live in,” she said in a conversation with Feldt and Jamia Wilson in a Take The Lead award-winning February, 2024 interview.
“#GloriaSteinem often spoke about the power of moments and connection. “The moment is the only time you can live in.” #leadership #feminist #equality”
“At my advanced age, I can testify that the things I thought were important in my life—testifying before Congress, writing something that I put a lot of effort into— so often has way less impact than some spontaneous thing that happened in the street. These are things that have made some kind of huge, enormous difference.”
Learn more about Gloria Steinem here.
She lived her life for joy and purpose. To change systems, to create equality for everyone regardless of race, gender, identity, geography, ability, religion, socioeconomics or politics. Her intention was fierce and she was relentless in her advocacy for global equality.
“Hierarchy is boring,” Steinem said in a 2016 Take The Lead Powertopia event with Feldt. “We don’t want to join the system as it is. We want to transform it,” Steinem said.
“Hierarchy is boring, We don’t want to join the system as it is. We want to transform it,” #GloriaSteinem said. @takeleadwomen #feminism”
A journalist who modelled fearless reporting, daring writing styles, fierce accuracy and innovative approaches, Steinem influenced my style of narrative writing and nonfiction essays. She is why I am a Ms. Magazine contributor since 2020.
I wrote in Take The Lead about a second encounter with Steinem.
“In 2012, she was the keynote speaker at Journalism & Women Symposium, a group of international feminist journalists I have belonged to since 1995. When she was introduced to the room of more than 200 women, the speaker asked, “Does anyone in this room not know who Gloria Steinem is?”
Steinem raised her hand.
I considered it the most self-aware, humble admission I had ever witnessed. She was not about to be defined in a few sentences of introduction and she was all about moving forward and shaping her identity as she charges ahead in action.
She offered inspiration to every woman journalist in the room that day. On collaborating across generations, she said, “I’m not giving up my torch. I’m using my torch to light everybody else’s torches. I think the key to it is not to worry about what we should say to [young women], and just listen to them. Say, ‘What’s unfair in your life, and how can I help you fix it?’ The only way we know we have something to say is if someone listens to us.”
Read more from Gloria Feldt on Steinem
As a radical believer in the power of the individual to create their possibilities, Steinem said in a February 2024 conversation with Feldt in Steinem’s living room, “Even if you don’t have an example to follow, you can explore ways you can make change happen.”
“ Even if you don’t have an example to follow, you can explore ways you can make change happen,” said #GloriaSteinem @msmagazine #feminism”
In a December 2020 Take The Lead virtual event, “Putting Women at the Heart of the Recovery: An Intimate Conversation,” Steinem said, “Laughter is the only emotion that cannot be compelled. Laughter is a proof of freedom.” The icon was also about fun.
Born in Toledo, Ohio, Steinem was raised mostly by a single mom who had mental health issues. Steinem became an advocate for equity, reproduction rights and domestic violence awareness and prevention. “We need to make the family a democracy. If we have democracy in the family, then it will seep into the outside world,” she said.
Because of her upbringing, Steinem said, “I realized you could make a living following your interests and your joy. We are each unlike any other person in our dreams and hopes.” The goal, she said, is “we do what we love so much we forget what time it is.”
She also honored the original and authentic in everyone. “You don’t have to be a stereotype. You can actually be a unique human being.”
“You don’t have to be a stereotype. You can actually be a unique human being,” said #GloriaSteinem #feminism #legacy”
The ultimate feminist, Steinem and her legacy are another F word: forever.
