Journalist, Author, Activist was Trailblazer
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
On September 2nd, journalist, author, activist Gloria Steinem passed away after a lifetime of trailblazing efforts on behalf of women. At a time when women weren’t even allowed to apply for credit cards without a male sponsor, Steinem was at the forefront of the women’s movement, seeking equal rights, opportunity and pay for women.
And now, thanks to Steinem, women in all walks of life – from competitive surfing to science, education to entrepreneurship, artists to astronauts – have a place at the table.
Steinem went undercover as a cocktail waitress in 1963 at Hugh Hefner’s Playboy Club in New York City. Donning bunny ears and a cottontail, she wrote an article for Show magazine about how the club treated women, revealing that behind all the glamour the women were underpaid and exploited.
Speaking at women’s rallies, in her trademark aviator glasses she was instantly recognizable as the voice of women’s equality. Hard to believe now, at the time job opportunities were listed in newspaper want ads as “Men Wanted” and “Women Wanted” with many jobs not available for women.
In 1972 she was one of the co-founders of Ms. magazine, the first national magazine to focus on feminist news. The first issue featured Wonder Woman on the cover and discussed everything from voting in elections, paying women for housework, and the equal rights amendment to demystifying how your car runs.
In addition to editing Ms. and writing countless articles, Steinem also wrote numerous books and was the subject of many books about her.
SurfWriter Girls admire how Steinem used all the tools in her arsenal – intelligence, skill, wit, perseverance – to pave the way for modern women to have untold opportunities.
Combining pragmatism with optimism, she described herself as a “hopeaholic” and was always working to make the world a better place – not just for women, but for everyone.
To find out more about Gloria Steinem, check out the publications in our story.
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