Gloria Steinem, Symbol of America's Second-Wave Feminism, Dies at 92

Campaign for Credit Card Issuance in Women's Names
Leadership in Gender Equality Movements, Including Reproductive Rights
Connection to Korea: Participation in "Women Cross DMZ"

Gloria Steinem, a journalist and women's rights activist who represented the second wave of feminism in the United States, has passed away at the age of 92.

According to the Financial Times (FT) on September 3, local time, Steinem's representatives announced via Instagram that she died peacefully the previous day at her home in New York, surrounded by family and close friends.

Female Activist Steinem. The Asia Business Daily

Since the 1960s, Steinem has been a leading figure in the American women's movement. She championed gender equality across a wide range of areas, from reproductive rights and access to education, to political participation and economic rights. Notably, she led the effort that allowed women to obtain credit cards in their own names without a male co-signer.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton paid tribute to Steinem, describing her as "one of the architects of the entire framework for women's equality over decades." Steinem had also publicly supported Clinton's political activities and presidential campaigns.

Born in Toledo, Ohio, in 1934, Steinem graduated from Smith College in 1956 and lived in India for two years, contributing to local media outlets. After returning to the United States, she gained recognition as a journalist.

The turning point that brought her national fame was her 1963 undercover investigation of the Playboy Club. Steinem worked directly as a "Bunny Girl," secretly reporting on the working conditions faced by female employees and exposing the reality in a series of published articles. Her groundbreaking approach to investigative journalism attracted widespread attention at the time.

Steinem's influence extended from the media industry to the broader women's movement. In 1971, she was involved in founding the National Women's Political Caucus, which aimed to expand women's representation in politics and public office. The goal was to increase women's participation not only among elected officials, but also among judges, members of the executive branch, lobbyists, and other prominent public roles.

In 1972, she co-founded the feminist magazine Ms. The inaugural issue featured a public declaration by prominent American women who acknowledged having undergone abortions at a time when abortion was illegal.

This came just before the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, which recognized abortion rights as constitutional. The Roe v. Wade ruling subsequently served as the legal foundation for protecting American women's abortion rights for nearly half a century.

Her achievements were also recognized by the U.S. government. In 2013, then-President Barack Obama awarded Steinem the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.

Steinem also had connections to Korea. In 2015, she participated in the "Women Cross DMZ" event, in which women peace activists from around the world crossed the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) to connect North and South Korea.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.