How Gloria Steinem’s lifechanging stay in India shaped her approach to feminism
theguardian.com • • nation
Key Points:
- Gloria Steinem’s 1957 visit to India, funded by a Chester Bowles fellowship, profoundly shaped her worldview and future feminist activism, marking a pivotal moment in her life.
- During her stay, Steinem immersed herself in Indian culture, adopting the sari and engaging deeply with local women, which influenced her understanding of communal sharing and women’s issues.
- Her experiences traveling through India, witnessing poverty and caste violence, and participating in grassroots movements taught her the importance of listening to people’s needs rather than imposing solutions.
- Steinem connected her later feminist organizing in the U.S. to lessons learned in India, viewing her activism as an extension of the community-based approaches she observed there.
- The influence of India was reflected in her work, including the iconic 1972 Ms. magazine cover featuring a Hindu goddess symbolizing the multifaceted roles of women.
