Gloria Steinem, a prominent feminist activist, journalist, and co-founder of Ms. Magazine, died peacefully at her home in New York City on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at age 92 [1, 2, 3]. Steinem’s death was announced by her foundation on Instagram the following day [1, 2].
Born on March 25, 1934 or 1935 in Toledo, Ohio, Steinem began her journalism career in the 1960s by going undercover at the Playboy Club to expose working conditions for employees [4, 2, 5, 6]. In 1971, she co-founded Ms. Magazine, one of the first publications to cover women’s issues beyond traditional roles [1, 2, 7]. That same year, she also helped found the National Women’s Political Caucus alongside leaders like Bella Abzug and Betty Friedan [8, 3].
Steinem emerged as a leading voice in the U.S. second-wave feminist movement. She advocated for reproductive rights, the Equal Rights Amendment, and racial inclusivity [1, 2, 8, 6, 3]. She publicly celebrated the landmark 1973 Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade that granted abortion rights, though she witnessed its 2022 reversal [1, 4, 3].
In 2013, President Barack Obama awarded Steinem the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her lifelong activism [3, 9]. In recent years, she remained active by writing, hosting community discussion groups, and continuing her advocacy work [2, 7, 6]. The Gloria Steinem Foundation said, “Gloria’s near-century on earth were years well-lived, and she continued working for equality until the very end.” [2]
Steinem famously said, “Either our control over our own bodies is equal, regardless of sex or race, or we’re not living in a democracy,” emphasizing her dedication to bodily autonomy and justice [5]. She also valued in-person connection, saying, “You can’t do it on the phone or on the web. You have to be there with all five senses.” [7]
The funeral and memorial details have not yet been announced. Her passing marks the end of a defining chapter in U.S. feminist and journalistic history.
