Gloria Steinem

“You can’t do it on the phone or on the web,”

Gloria Steinem · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-03

Steinem told the AP in a 2015 interview that advocacy requires being physically present with others.

“I just read everything I could get my hands on,”

Gloria Steinem · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-03

Steinem told an audience at Manhattan's 92NY that as a child not attending regular school, she read everything she could get her hands on.

“the most sexually insecure chief of state since Napoleon.”

Gloria Steinem · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-03

Steinem called President Nixon the most sexually insecure chief of state since Napoleon in a 1972 National Press Club speech.

“Either our control over our own bodies is equal, regardless of sex or race, or we’re not living in a democracy.”

Gloria Steinem · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-03

Steinem told the AP in a 2022 email reflecting on the reversal of Roe v. Wade that equal control over one's body is essential to democracy.

“It was clear that label was being assigned to me. The most hurtful part is that you work very hard, and people say it’s because of your looks.”

Gloria Steinem · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-03

Steinem told the AP in 2011 that being labeled beautiful was hurtful because it suggested her success was due to her looks rather than her work.

“So I ended up going out and speaking, which was my nightmare,”

Gloria Steinem · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-03

Steinem told the AP in 2015 that she resorted to public speaking because editors would not let her write about the women's movement.

“It shouldn’t need a name, and one day it won’t.”

Gloria Steinem · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-03

Steinem once said feminism should not need a name and one day it will not.

“the only free emotion — the only one that can’t be compelled.”

Gloria Steinem · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-03

Steinem wrote that laughter is the only free emotion that cannot be compelled.

“Nobody ever called me beautiful until I was publicly a feminist, and that was in my mid-30s,”

Gloria Steinem · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-03

Steinem told the AP in a 2011 interview that nobody called her beautiful until she became a public feminist in her mid-30s.

“That speak-out was the beginning of activism for me,”

Gloria Steinem · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-03

Steinem told the AP in a 2022 email that a 1969 abortion rights speak-out marked the beginning of her activism.

“I was engaged to a very nice man. It wasn’t his fault, but I just didn’t want to get married,”

Gloria Steinem · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-03

Steinem told a 2026 audience that she had been engaged to a nice man but simply did not want to get married.

“I can’t mate in captivity.”

Gloria Steinem · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-03

Steinem often explained her singlehood before marrying at 66 by saying she could not mate in captivity.

“the low point of my life,”

Gloria Steinem · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-03

Steinem jokingly called an assignment to write about textured stockings the low point of her life.

“You have to be there with all five senses. It should be obvious that people can’t empathize with each other unless we’re in the same room.”

Gloria Steinem · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-03

Steinem told the AP in a 2015 interview that people cannot empathize with each other unless they share a room.

“Being a feminist means that you see the world as whole instead of half,”

Gloria Steinem · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-03

Steinem once said being a feminist means seeing the world as whole instead of half.

“I mean, I was terrified. But I’m grateful, even though I still get scared even now.”

Gloria Steinem · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-03

Steinem told the AP in 2015 that she was terrified of public speaking but grateful she overcame her fear.

“ticket out of Toledo,”

Gloria Steinem · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-03

Steinem said tap dancing was going to be her ticket out of Toledo, though that career did not materialize.