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Gloria Steinem's grandmother, Pauline Perlmutter Steinem, served as president of the Ohio Women’s Suffrage Association.
While Gloria was not alive during this event, her grandmother, Pauline Perlmutter Steinem, was president of the Ohio Women’s Suffrage Association from 1908 to 1911. Knowing that her grandmother was a woman's rights activist (as well as the first woman to be elected to the Board of Education in Toledo, Ohio), this event may have influenced her to follow in her grandmother's footsteps as an adult. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Gloria-Steinem -
Gloria Steinem stops taking care of her mother, and goes to Smith College
In 1952, Steinem left for Smith College and stopped taking care of her mother, Ruth, who was suffering from mental illness due to her divorce. This event was significant in Steinem's life because after experiencing the way her mother had become after a divorce, Steinem advocated that women should not have to become dependent on a husband.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/1983/10/12/in-1983-the-womens-movement-was-changing-but-gloria-steinem-stood-her-ground/ -
Gloria Steinem attends 'The Redstockings' meeting on Reproductive Rights
On March 21, 1969, Steinem attended an open hearing put on by the radical feminist group, "The Redstockings". The meeting involved group members speaking on their own traumatic experiences regarding abortions. This moment was significant for Steinem because she had felt criminalized for having an abortion herself, and was inspired by the women advocating for themselves in public. This pushed her to want to become a full-time advocate.
https://www.villagepreservation.org/2022/05/09/redstockings/ -
Gloria Steinem helps launch 'Ms' magazine
In December 1971, along with other feminist figures, Steinem took the lead in launching 'Ms' magazine. At first, Ms was an insert in New York magazine, but by January 1972, Ms was a stand-alone magazine. This was an important moment for Steinem because the magazine led as a gateway to becoming a larger voice for women. Steinem was able to give more of her time to the women's liberation movement, and publish more remarkable articles and essays.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Gloria-Steinem