Imbibe Gloria’s lessons for leaders

In the early part of the 20th century, education for women catalyzed empowerment. Then in mid-century the birthcontrol pill made further empowerment possible. Gloria’s activism found a foothold in this evolving context.

“We are talking about a society in which there will be no roles other than those chosen or those earned; we are talking about humanism.”

Gloria Steinem, American icon, has devoted her life to empowering women, encouraging them to make their own choices in the roles they play in society. Even today she remains the country’s most eloquent, influential and revered feminist. In the early part of the 20th century, education for women catalyzed empowerment. Then in mid-century the birth-control pill made further empowerment possible. Gloria’s activism found a foothold in this evolving context.

The daughter of a Jewish-American father and a part-German mother, her childhood was turbulent. It was marked by her father’s failing business and her mother’s failing health. In 1952, she was accepted into Smith College, Massachusetts, from which she graduated magna cum laude in political science. She journeyed to India on a Chester Bowles scholarship offered and enrolled at Delhi University. She noted how she felt strangely at home there. Upon her return home, she stated virulently that America was “… an enormous frosted cupcake in the middle of millions of starving people.”

Issue Sep-Oct 2007

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