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For Immediate Release
September 3, 2026
Contact: media@iwpr.org
The following is a statement from Dr. Jamila K. Taylor, president and CEO of the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, on the passing of feminist icon Gloria Steinem:
Gloria Steinem was a fierce fighter, a witty writer, and a tireless champion of equity and justice. As a journalist, activist, and feminist icon, she challenged the status quo and will be remembered for the trails she blazed in the name of progress. A steadfast defender of reproductive autonomy, she helped women gain and build economic security while growing political power. Gloria believed deeply in the importance of women owning and telling their own stories, ensuring that their experiences would never be diminished, overlooked, or swept under the rug.
In her lifetime, Gloria saw both immense progress and devastating backsliding, and through it all she never stopped fighting. In her 2022 Wesleyan University commencement address, she said, “I am a hope-a-holic. I believe that hope is a form of planning.”
That is the essence of what we must all continue to do to ensure that the gender equity Gloria spent her life championing becomes a full and lasting reality.