Gloria Steinem, the pioneering feminist activist, author and journalist who became one of the most influential voices of the US women’s movement, has passed away at the age of 92. Following news of her death, tributes poured in from Hillary Clinton, Jill Biden, Meghan Markle, Lena Dunham, Roxane Gay, Rachel Cargle, Harvey Fierstein and several others who remembered her as a fearless trailblazer and a transformative force for gender equality.
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Steinem died peacefully on Wednesday at her home in New York City, surrounded by loved ones, according to a statement released by her representative on Thursday.
“Gloria’s near-century on earth were years well-lived, and she continued working for equality until the very end,” the statement said. It also remembered her ability to listen to others and make people feel “seen and heard”, adding that her words, actions and example encouraged people to embrace their authentic selves.
Hillary Clinton remembers Gloria Steinem as an architect of women’s equality
Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton paid tribute to Steinem, recalling first becoming aware of her work during the 1960s and 1970s.
Clinton said Steinem helped make the fight for equal opportunity more visible and connected the experiences of individual women to broader social inequalities. She credited the activist with helping build the movement for women’s equality and opening doors for millions of women who followed.
Recalling Steinem’s influence on issues ranging from education and employment to reproductive rights and women’s participation in sports and politics, Clinton described her as an optimist whose activism was rooted in the belief that change was possible.
“Be like Gloria: Embody possibility, and extend it,” Clinton said in her tribute shared on social media.
