Gloria Steinem: Pioneering Feminist and Democratic Ally
Debra Skolnick
Provided by the author as her personal reflections on Ms. Steinem.
September 3, 2026
Many of us are old enough to remember Gloria Steinem—the rock star of the 1960s and ’70s women’s liberation movement. A journalist, political activist and feminist organizer, Steinem became nationally recognized as one of the most influential leaders of the modern American feminist movement and a longtime ally of the Democratic Party.
Steinem’s political involvement extended directly into Democratic Party politics. In 1971, she was identified in the Congressional Record as a member of the Democratic National Policy Council. She worked with prominent Democratic women, including Shirley Chisholm and Bella Abzug, and became an important voice in bringing women’s rights issues into mainstream Democratic politics. Throughout her career, Steinem advocated for equal opportunity and economic independence for women, reproductive freedom, civil rights and the Equal Rights Amendment.
She co-founded Ms. magazine and helped establish the National Women’s Political Caucus, which worked to increase women’s participation in political life. In 2013, President Barack Obama awarded Steinem the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, recognizing her decades of leadership in advancing women’s equality.
Steinem was also a longtime advocate of Democratic candidates, including Hillary Clinton in both 2008 and 2016. Reflecting on Steinem’s influence, Clinton said:
“I think back to my first awareness of Gloria way back in the
1960s into the ’70s, when all of a sudden this incredibly smart,
beautiful, talented woman began talking about how women
should have equal opportunity, how we should aim for the stars,
be able to pursue our own dreams.”
A supporter of Roe v. Wade, she co-founded Voters for Choice, a pro-choice political organization. Steinem strongly opposed the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe in 2022 and remained a prominent advocate for abortion rights. Those rights are still being argued in 2026 campaigns and have become a potentially decisive issue for women.
Gloria Steinem spent much of her childhood traveling with her parents, who bought and sold antiques. Because of this lifestyle, she did not attend school regularly as a young child. She eventually attended high school and, after graduation, enrolled at Smith College. The decades that followed helped forge Steinem’s legacy. She helped transform the women’s movement into a powerful force in American political and social life and inspired generations of women to become politically active.
In 1960, there were just 12 women Democrats in Congress. By April 2026, there were 110 women serving in Congress—94 in the House and 16 in the Senate. According to current data from the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP), approximately 250 Democratic women are on the November 3 ballot for the House and Senate combined.
No stopping us now! We are looking forward to a woman president in 2028.