Gloria Steinem, the American writer, activist and organizer who championed gender equality and women's civil and reproductive rights for more than five decades, died Wednesday at her home in New York City. She was 92. Her foundation announced her death Thursday.
Steinem was a co-founder and consulting editor of Ms. Magazine, which she helped establish in the late 1960s. She became one of the most visible symbols and potent voices of the U.S. women's movement, helping lead the country's second wave of feminism—the push beyond women's suffrage into equality in business, law and personal life.
Born in Toledo, Ohio, in 1934, Steinem studied government at Smith College, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1956. She spent much of her life on the road, speaking at college campuses, community centers, rallies and marches. In a 2015 interview with the Associated Press, she explained her approach to activism: "You can't do it on the phone or on the web. You have to be there with all five senses. It should be obvious that people can't empathize with each other unless we're in the same room."
Steinem was known for her trademark appearance—streaked hair parted down the middle and large aviator glasses—making her a hugely recognizable presence wherever she went. She described herself as an "entrepreneur of social change" and emphasized the importance of listening to other women's experiences. In a 2015 interview with The New Yorker, she said: "I want to do justice to the women I meet, to tell their stories. It's about making connections and using myself to listen, because we can't empower women without hearing their stories."
Her foundation said in an Instagram post that "Gloria's near-century on earth were years well-lived, and she continued working for equality until the very end." The statement added: "Gloria lived true to her independent spirit, always with curiosity and a great sense of humor."
Steinem was married once, to David Bale, father of actor Christian Bale, which she later described as a green card marriage. Caring for her mentally ill mother as a child shaped her views on marriage and children. No cause of death was reported.