09/03/2026
I was deeply saddened to learn of Gloria Steinem's passing. As a young woman in college pursuing my minor in Women’s Studies, I learned so much about Gloria, her work, her activism, her courage, and the extraordinary role she played in advancing equality and amplifying women’s voices. Her life and work helped me understand not only how far women had come, but how much courage, persistence, storytelling, and collective action it took to get there.
Perhaps that is why her passing feels especially poignant at this moment in history.
So many women before us fought extraordinarily hard for rights and protections that generations after them might have assumed were secure. Yet we have been reminded that progress is never guaranteed. Hard-won protections can be rolled back, and women continue to face discrimination, violence, exploitation, inequality, and challenges to their autonomy. There is still so much work to be done.
One piece of advice Gloria offered feminists and organizers feels especially meaningful today:
“Telling each other our stories is the single most revolutionary act in every way…change comes from telling the truth and knowing that you’re not alone.” — Gloria Steinem
Thank you, Gloria, for doing exactly that for so many decades. Thank you for telling the truth, telling the stories, challenging what needed to be challenged, opening doors that had been closed for far too long, and reminding generations of women that our experiences, our stories, and our voices matter.
And to the young women coming behind us: keep learning. Keep speaking. Keep asking questions. Keep telling your stories. Keep standing up for one another. And never assume that the rights generations before you fought for will protect themselves.
There is still so much work to be done, and each generation has a responsibility to carry that work forward.
And don’t worry, Gloria, I’ll keep telling my story. I know so many others will, too.
Rest in power, Gloria. Thank you for everything you gave to women and to the world. 💜
Photo: Warren K. Leffler / Library of Congress, 1972