Gloria Steinem Dead at 92 After Decades Fighting for Women’s Rights

Gloria Steinem, a famous women’s rights activist, has died. She was 92.

Steinem died peacefully at her home in New York City on Wednesday, September 2, surrounded by loved ones, according to a statement shared on her official Instagram account. No cause of death was announced.

“Gloria’s near-century on earth were years well-lived, and she continued working for equality until the very end,” the statement read.

It added that Steinem’s “greatest gift was her ability to listen to others, to make others feel seen and heard” and said she “lived true to her independent spirit, always with curiosity and a great sense of humor.”

“She spent her recent years doing the two things she loved most: being in community with others and writing,” the statement continued. “She has welcomed hundreds of guests into her living room for Talking Circles, a tradition she insisted will continue long after she is no longer with us.”

Steinem had recently completed a new memoir, An Unexpected Life, which is set to be released later this month.

She first made a name for herself as a journalist in the ’60s before becoming an outspoken advocate for women’s rights. In 1969, her career took a major turn when she covered a public hearing where women spoke about their experiences with abortion.

Steinem, who had undergone an illegal abortion herself at 22, later said the event marked the beginning of her activism.

In 1972, she cofounded Ms. magazine, and she continued writing, speaking and campaigning for equal rights for decades. She remained active well into her 90s.

“Gloria Steinem pushed open doors not just for herself, but for literally millions of women behind her,” Hillary Clinton praised in an X post. “I want her voice to remain in our heads. It’s wonderful to do what you can to further your own future, to get the best education you can, and to pursue your dreams. But it’s even better to bring other people along with you.”

Steinem had no children. Her husband, David Bale, the father of actor Christian Bale, died in 2003.