Gloria Steinem, trailblazing journalist and activist, dies at 92

Key Points:

• Gloria Steinem, a pioneering journalist and feminist activist, died peacefully at age 92 in New York City, as announced on her Instagram. The cause of death was not disclosed.
• Beginning in the 1960s, Steinem challenged gender stereotypes and advocated for women's rights, including equality and reproductive freedom, inspiring generations and becoming a symbol of the feminist movement.
• She gained national attention with her 1963 undercover exposé "A Bunny's Tale," revealing sexism in Playboy clubs, and co-founded Ms. magazine in 1972, the first national magazine run by and for women addressing taboo topics like abortion and sexual harassment.
• Beyond journalism, Steinem was a political organizer who co-founded the National Women's Political Caucus in 1971 to increase women's political participation, contributing to significant growth in women elected to office over the decades.
• Steinem was a lifelong advocate for reproductive rights, openly sharing her own experience with an illegal abortion, and emphasized that true societal change comes from grassroots efforts rather than top-down political action.