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Gloria Steinem

BIRTHDAY: March 25, 1934

ABOUT HER
At the age of 10, when her parents split up, Gloria Steinem began to take care of her emotionally unstable mother and attend school regularly for the first time. She went on to become Phi Beta Kappa at Smith College and there discovered her mother's mental illnesses were partially caused by being forced to give up her career when she married. Gloria Steinem vowed to help change these restrictive mandates for women.

Working as a journalist she quickly discovered the glass ceiling for women in both pay and power. She began to cover stories about workers and the rights of minority groups and to attend demonstrations for both workers and minority groups also. Unsure why she felt so strongly about working for the oppressed, she finally understood that as a woman she was one of the oppressed also.

As a journalist and activist she called for legalized abortion, equal pay for equal work, and passage of the Equal Rights Amendment. She cofounded Ms. magazine, the first national museum run by women, the National Women's Political Caucus, and the Coalition of Labor Union Women.

Today she continues to fight for gender, racial and economic justice for all people.

AWARDS/HONORS

• The Penney-Missouri Journalism Award
• Woman of the Year by McCalls magazine
• The National Women's Hall of Fame
• President of Voters for Choice
• Founding president of the Ms. Foundation for Women

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Gloria Steinem, Carolyn Daffron
Particular Passions, Lynn Gilbert and Gaylen Moore
One Woman's Power, Sondra Henry and Emily Taitz
Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions, Gloria Steinem
Feminist Family Values, Gloria Steinem
Marilyn: Norma Jeane, Gloria Steinem
Moving Beyond Words, Gloria Steinem
Revolution from Within: A Book of Self-Esteem, Gloria Steinem

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