Gloria Steinem's Life in Photos: A Look Back at Civil Rights Activist and Journalist's Legacy After Her Death at 92

Civil rights activist and journalist Gloria Steinem built a groundbreaking legacy by reshaping the fight for equality.

On September 3, a joint post shared on Steinem's Instagram and Gloria's Foundation announced that the Ms. magazine co-founder "passed away peacefully at her home in New York City" on September 2, "surrounded by some of the many who loved her." She was 92.

The statement continued, "Gloria's near-century on earth were years well-lived, and she continued working for equality until the very end."

"In lieu of flowers, Gloria has asked that those wishing to honor her with a gift, may make a donation to Gloria's Foundation," the post concluded.

Following Steinem's death, OK! looks back at the remarkable life she led and legacy she leaves behind.

On December 19, 1984, Steinem was among three people arrested outside the South African Embassy in Washington while taking part in an anti-apartheid protest.

According to The Washington Post, the Ms. magazine publisher and the two other individuals were charged with demonstrating within 500 feet of an embassy — a misdemeanor.

Alan Alda was photographed giving Steinem a warm embrace during her black-tie 50th birthday celebration at New York City's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on May 23, 1984.

Despite dedicating much of her time on activism, Steinem also enjoyed a lively social life throughout her career. On November 16, 1983, she was spotted with her friends Judy Collins, Marlo Thomas and Phil Donahue in New York City for the premiere of Yentl.

Steinem joined Glenn Close and Alan King at New York Women in Film's annual Christmas luncheon in 1989.

The 101 Dalmatians actress served as the luncheon's honored guest speaker at the time, according to New York Women in Film & Television's website.

Steinem and magazine editor Patricia Carbine were seen reviewing an issue of Ms. at the publication's offices on January 29, 1980, years after the magazine's independent launch.

"The New York Times refused to use 'Ms.' as a form of address for a dozen years; thus I remained 'Miss Steinem of Ms. magazine," Steinem looked back at the magazine's beginnings.

Steinem, who was working as a freelance journalist before founding Ms. magazine, welcomed The Associated Press into her New York City apartment for a profile on March 18, 1970.

Then-AP writer Lynn Sherr introduced Steinem as a "writer who is almost as much written about as she writes."

"She's as beautiful as the Beautiful People she records. She's a name among name droppers. And she's Everygirl's answer to whether Cinderella can ever find success and happiness in the big city," Sherr added in the feature, titled "Making It Like, Wow."

The social activist stood before the crowd at the National Press Club luncheon in Washington on January 24, 1972, shortly after the organization had agreed to admit women journalists.

Hillary Clinton presented Steinem with an award at the inaugural Forbes 30/50 Summit, which coincided with International Women's Day, at the Louvre Abu Dhabi in March 2023.

At the time, Steinem reflected on the challenges women still face, particularly the "unequal responsibility for raising children and the mystique of masculinity." She later told the former U.S. Secretary of State the course of the country's history might have looked very different had Clinton, who ran for president twice, won.

"I'm glad we started out with the whole concept of work because, in fact, until work is divided equally at home — that is until men are fathers, are raising infants and little children as much as women are — then men maybe won't be able to develop their full, nurturing, patient selves, which of course they are and they have," said Steinem. "Children will grow up not thinking that men can be as loving and patient as women can, and that women can be as active and achieving in the world outside the home."

Politics was also a major arena for Steinem's activism.

On July 9, 1983, she conducted a workshop during a National Women's Political Caucus meeting, as politicians were paying increasing attention to what was then being described as the "gender gap" between male and female voters.

Steinem made an appearance at the Make Equality Reality Event on November 3, 2014, alongside Salma Hayek Pinault. The two women were honorees: Steinem for her lifelong commitment to women's rights, and the Frida actress for her work advocating for women and girls.

"If you think about the human race as a bird with two wings, you understand that if one is damaged or broken, no one can fly," the renowned activist said during her acceptance speech. "So we are here tonight, and I thank you so much and I thank Equality for leading us. We are here tonight to make sure that — once again, as at times in the past — once again, the human race, can fly."

Steinem stood beside Bella Abzug and Mary Tyler Moore during a major gathering of women's rights leaders on Capitol Hill on February 4, 1981.

By 2015, Steinem was playing a huge role in helping another generation of women find a stronger voice in media.

She appeared with Amy Schumer at the 2015 Women's Media Awards in New York on November 5, 2015, during which the Women's Media Center co-founder reflected on the nonprofit's progress.

"Information about women, news about women, is still put into a silo and not understood to be part of foreign policy, part of economic policy," Steinem told the attendees. "You really can't write a story of any breadth without including all those issues. So we have to get women out of the silo and into all the major topics."

In 1984, Steinem posed for a photo with Kirstie Alley, who played the feminist icon in the 1985 television movie A Bunny's Tale.

Steinem was photographed with Ally Sheedy and Rita Moreno ahead of the third annual Gloria Steinem Awards in New York on May 20, 1991.

Steinem shared a heartfelt interaction with Lena Dunham at the 2016 New York Women in Communications Matrix Awards.