‘She let me feel normal’
What I appreciated most about Gloria was she let me feel normal. I graduated in engineering as one of three women in a class of over 150. In her world, a feminist was a woman that wanted to be judged for her capabilities and not her gender. She was very inspirational and empowering when I first read her books as a young engineer. Teresa, Switzerland
‘A stalwart in my life’
She was a stalwart in my life and my evolution as a feminist and a supporter of the rights of women. I met Gloria Steinem once, at the very beginning of her career and of my own. Fresh out of Wellesley College, I travelled with a friend, another aspiring journalist, to cover the World Festival of Youth and Students, held in Vienna in the summer of 1959. The festival, it was widely acknowledged, was sponsored by the Soviet bloc; it came in the wake of the failed Hungarian revolt against communism and attracted young people from all over the world. From the US, there were two delegations, one called the New York group, the other the Cambridge crowd. Gloria Steinem was the super-glamorous, gorgeous, dynamic “secretary” of the Cambridge crowd. In her low-cut summer frock and what we called, even back then, “fuck-me sandals” she was a knockout, everywhere, directing operations, arranging for Ella Fitzgerald (no less) to give a free concert, feeding journalists stories, prompts, questions. I don’t think her official title was anything more than secretary, but clearly she was the person in charge. I was not surprised when she emerged several years later as a key figure in the burgeoning women’s movement. Her combination of brains and a well-nourished sense of humour brought strength, wit, and intelligence to the movement. And now, when we really need her like again, she is gone – but I pray her memory will continue to strengthen all of us who care about women’s lives and futures. Nancy Harmon Jenkins, 89, journalist, Camden, Maine
‘A lovely, gracious person’
In March of 2014, I was surprised to see Gloria Steinem got on my uptown 6 subway train here in NYC. It was fairly busy on the train but when someone offered her a seat she declined and said she was just going a couple of stops. She was very smiley and casual and even though it was likely most passengers in the car wouldn’t have known who she was, somehow it was clear everyone knew she was someone. This included a young woman who shyly approached her and they spoke for a few minutes and I should say Steinem looked thrilled to bits about this – just seemed like a lovely, gracious person and – like all true New Yorkers – happy to hop on the subway. Niko Wolf, New York City
‘I owe so much to her courage and strength’
Gloria blazed into my consciousness in high school, around 1975. She opened my eyes to the real world; I could define sexism and rail against it. In my 30s, my nickname, Little Miss Independent, surprised me. I was just living my life as I saw fit. She has given me a beautiful one, filled with love, joy, and travel. I owe so much to her courage and strength. I was blessed to come of age with her voice leading the way. I attended a talk held in a local school gym and travelled to the Woman’s March in DC in 2017. Her voice was manna from heaven. Jean, retired educator, New Jersey
‘The catalyst for my lifelong interest in gender studies’
I was attending Wichita State University in 1972 when Gloria Steinem spoke at a forum there. After she spoke she talked with some of us who attended. She was so warm and friendly. She inspired many of us to work to pass the ERA (equal rights amendment) even though it later failed. A year or two after meeting her I moved to Tehran, Iran. She certainly helped me have a different perspective on the living situations of women in Iran as well as the United States. She was very influential in my decision to study what was known then as women’s studies. She was the catalyst for my lifelong interest in gender studies and in particular issues and problems of middle-aged women around the world. Marlene Ammar, 81, Vancouver, Washington
‘My daughter was in awe’
Growing up in regional Queensland, reading Gloria Steinem’s books, it was like opening a portal to a new world that I wanted to be part of. I never met her but had the honour of hearing her speak on her final trip to Australia in May 2016 at Sydney town hall. I took my then 12-year-old daughter. She was in awe of Gloria, seeing all her books and hearing the excitement of the crowd while we waited for the hall to open. We became involved in some incredible conversations with women there – my daughter was incredulous to hear some of the stories such as [women] having to leave their jobs when they got married in the 1960s. We bought some of Gloria’s books and my daughter started to read them on the train home. It was a truly memorable evening. Toni Wren, 63, Sydney, Australia
‘Because of Steinem I became a domestic violence rescuer’
Because of Steinem I became a domestic violence rescuer after I saw how my mom was ignored by the system in the 1960s. I later helped pass the Violence Against Women Act in 1994. Gloria Steinem was a groundbreaking giant. She was smart and articulate like nobody before her, except Betty Friedan – we were so lucky to have these brave women. They woke us up from a long domestic violence nightmare. They did other things for women’s rights, but I appreciate her singular commitment in the DV space. Nobody was talking about it before. Rest in power Gloria, and thank you. Catherine, retired domestic violence worker, Seattle
‘That quick chat was the best’
When I graduated from high school in 1966, women were simply expected to get married, have babies, and work inside the home. I graduated from high school with honours; graduated from the University of Michigan with distinction; graduated from law school with honours; and passed the Michigan Bar Exam the first time I took it. After law school, I worked as a research attorney for two Michigan Circuit Court Judges and then practised with a highly respected, mid-sized law firm until my retirement. I was an early subscriber to Ms Magazine. I never knew Gloria Steinem and I only had the privilege to meet her once. Sometime during the 1990s, she was invited by the Michigan Bar Association to be a keynote speaker. I took a day off from work and drove myself across the state to attend the meeting. At the reception for Ms Steinem, I thanked her “for making my life so difficult”. She smiled and laughed and gave me a quick hug. And that was it. And even though I’ve met many important people, diplomats, and supreme court justices, that quick chat with her to thank her for helping me to fully become myself was the best. Lanie Anderson, 77, retired attorney, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
‘Gloria was serious about representation’
My mother, Maya Miller, worked with Gloria on poverty and women’s issues. They were on the Ms Foundation board together, which was made up of a dozen or so women from across the country, across races and cultures – Gloria was serious about representation and knew a lot of very smart women. Most meetings happened back east in New York or DC, but in 1972 Nevada cut welfare payments in half. Knowing this affected mainly women and children, Gloria was one of several celebrities to come to Nevada to protest. There was a big march that shut down the Las Vegas strip. Gloria also came to northern Nevada to picket the legal brothels owned and run by men. Gloria supported my mother when Maya ran for US Senate from Nevada at a time when there were no women in the senate. I did meet her a few times, and remember her as kind. Kind eyes, soft spoken, and usually taking a back seat to listen to the other women in the room. And extremely smart with strategy, and witty at confronting chauvinism and stupid men. Kit Miller, 71, Washoe Valley, Nevada
