The Face of Feminism
Someone who I look up to as a young woman pursuing a career in law is the famous journalist Gloria Steinem. Steinem has been a powerful force for women’s rights since the late 1960s up until today, so powerful that National Geographic labeled her “the world’s most famous feminist”. She was born on the 25th of March, 1934 in Toledo, Ohio. She attended Smith College where she studied government and took her studies to India where she was inspired by activism. She most often is known for her writings within New York magazine and co-founding of Ms.. Much of the push for women’s rights throughout America can be traced back to her and her team’s work to push for the Equal Rights Amendment, the development of the National Women’s Political Caucus to discuss issues affecting women, and the overall rise of feminism throughout the nation. I found her story incredibly interesting that one woman accomplished so much in her lifetime in order to help benefit women across the nation.
I admire her nonconformity and boldness when faced with controversy. Two of my favorite quotes she has said are, “The truth will set you free, but first, it will piss you off.”, and, “The first problem for all of us, men and women, is not to learn, but to unlearn.”. I think both quotations really capture who she is as an individual. The first one emphasizes that ignorance is bliss, but you will only be free once you learn the real truth. Yet with the truth comes the anger to want change. The second quotation showcases how the only way to grow as an individual is to question what you already know and expand that knowledge. Many people have been raised in traditional households in which the men make powerful decisions on behalf of the family. Yet as we see time after time that women are just as capable as men to be in charge, we see that many traditional beliefs can be restricted to the real power females have.
I think the work of Steinem really made people start talking about the previously taboo topics that affect women daily, such as reproductive rights, sexual assault awareness, wage gaps, etc. Identifying as female, I myself am affected by these issues and am pleased to see that now they are finally talked about with an audience listening.
Though I don’t have the public eye in the way Steinem achieved, I am adamant like her to talk about and educate others on not just women’s rights issues but racial, religious, and identity issues we face constantly in this country. Though we talk about how our nation is changing for the better over time, it still needs some change to come faster as we see injustice occur every day. To me, a good leader is someone who people feel they can relate to, but also someone they know will fight for them. I believe the reason Steinem captivated the nation was her voice. Many people see calculated political figures who don’t shadow what the public feels, but Steinem was unconditionally herself even when others tried to silence her.
