Gloria Steinem: A Life of Liberation, Love, and Contradictions

Rebecca Traister remembers Gloria Steinem as a complex, charismatic force who helped shape the second wave through sharp wit, expansive advocacy, and a willingness to confront race and privilege. The piece traces Steinem’s rise from journalism to feminist organizing, her deft public persona, and the tensions between her whiteness and the movement she helped lead, including clashes with other feminists and backlashes to feminist gains. It also highlights her mentorship of younger women, her relationships with men, and her enduring belief in liberation for all, ending with Steinem’s death at 92 and her lasting impact on culture and politics.