Gloria Steinem
Cayleigh Lekven-5th
Brief history of Gloria Steinem
Gloria Steinem played an important role in American History by being one of the first major feminist figures who fought for women's equality. She worked with countless organizations like the Women's Action Alliance, and worked as a journalist, continually fighting towards women's rights. Her hunger for equality lead to new opened opportunities for women.
Ms. Magazine
Steinem helped create Ms. Magazine, a famous and successful magazine company run only by women.
"We Shall Over Come"
Steinem traveled with Dorothy Pittman, a black feminist giving speeches about overcoming oppression women face from society.
Playboy Bunny
Steinem went undercover as a playboy bunny at the beginning of her career to expose the sexism women were facing in the work place.
Gloria Steinem and Civil Disobedience
Gloria Steinem represents ideas found in Henry David Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience" because she refuses to settle with the way people (women in her case) are treated, and wants a change in society. Steinem always encouraged people do what was morally right over what society or the government told them was right. Similarly, Henry David Thoreau followed the same ideas that,"It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right. The only obligation which I have a right to assume is to do at any time what I think is right" (Thoreau). Also, Steinem always demanded for a modern society, and also a modern government that would help women gain more opportunities. Thoreau also "[asked] for... a better government", one that treated people well and let them live their own lives. Gloria Steinem's impact on others through her feminism often got people thinking about women's equality, and the restrictions on women and whether they should, "endeavor to amend them, and obey them until we have succeeded , or shall [they] transgress them at once" (Thoreau). Throughout her career, Steinem continuously refused to obey the laws, and expectations around her, much like Henry David Thoreau. Because of her actions, Steinem got the gears of feminism turning in everyone's mind.