Feminist activist and journalist Gloria Steinem dies at 92

What the report says

Gloria Steinem, a leading figure in the US women’s liberation movement and a prominent journalist and writer, has died at the age of 92, according to her foundation. The foundation said on Instagram that she died peacefully at her home in New York City, where she was surrounded by loved ones. BBC World News reported the announcement on 3 September 2026.

Steinem became widely known as one of the central voices for women’s rights in the 1970s. She helped found Ms. magazine, which became influential for covering topics such as gender equality and reproductive rights, and also co-founded the Women’s Action Alliance, an organisation aimed at opposing sexism. The BBC said she later spoke in support of same-sex marriage, equal pay, and legal protections for women, while also campaigning against the death penalty and female genital mutilation.

Born in Toledo, Ohio, in 1934, Steinem worked in journalism in New York and gained wider attention through reporting that exposed conditions for Playboy Bunnies. She later became a columnist and expanded her role in activism. Her foundation said she remained engaged in work for equality until the end of her life.

Her death marks the loss of a long-time public voice for feminism and civil rights. More broadly, Steinem’s career helped shape modern discussions about women’s status in politics, media and everyday life.