The Premier Lecture

Reflections on Feminism: A Voyage of Discovery with Gloria Steinem

November 6, 2009 | Wright Auditorium | 7:00PM

After rising to national prominence as a feminist leader in the 1960s, Ms. Steinem emerged as an important intellectual force as well, helping to found New York magazine. Earlier, Ms. Steinem had broken new cultural and journalistic ground in 1963 with an investigative report on how the women of Playboy were treated. Ms. Steinem’s report was later made into a 1985 movie, A Bunny's Tale.  

In the 1970s she became a leading political leader and one of the most important heads of the second-wave feminism, the women's rights movement. In 1971, Steinem, along with other feminist leaders (including Betty Friedan and U.S. Representatives Shirley Chisholm and Bella Abzug) founded the National Women's Political Caucus. An influential co-convener of the Caucus, Ms. Steinem delivered her memorable, "Address to the Women of America." The next year Steinem became the founding editor and publisher of Ms. magazine, which brought feminist issues to the forefront and became the movement's most influential publication. 

Steinem actively campaigned for the Equal Rights Amendment, in addition to other laws and social reforms that promoted equality. She also founded or co-founded many groups, including the Women's Action Alliance, the Coalition of Labor Union Women, the Women's Media Center, and Choice USA.