Tributes to Gloria Steinem poured in after the feminist icon and journalist died Wednesday at age 92. From former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to former Vice President Kamala Harris to Meghan Markle, women across the country are reflecting on the legacy of the trailblazing activist and author.
During an interview with “Morning Joe” on Thursday, Clinton described Steinem’s passing as both a “personal loss” and a “reminder about the difference that one person can make who lives a purposeful life.”
While she was “lucky enough to get to know Gloria as a friend,” the former secretary of state said Steinem and her feminist news outlet Ms. magazine were “very influential” in her early life.
Ms. magazine was a “revelation to many of us as we learned much more about disparities between the way boys and girls were treated,” Clinton said Thursday.
In addition to being an admirer of Steinem’s work, Clinton also praised her iconic fashion. “I bought my first pair of aviator sunglasses because I saw her wearing them,” she said.
Speaking to MS NOW’s Peter Alexander, Harris praised Steinem’s “incredible sense of humor and wit” and said she taught women not to let others’ perceptions “be a limitation” on their abilities.
In 2020, after Joe Biden chose Harris as his running mate, Steinem praised the selection, saying Black women were the “heart and soul of the Democratic Party.” Four years later, the activist also threw her support behind the then-vice president in her matchup with Donald Trump.
“I wasn’t the first,” Harris told Alexander. “She has supported women in the run for the presidency as early as her incredible support for Shirley Chisholm, who is a role model for me. And of course, Hillary Clinton.”
Nancy Pelosi, who served as the first female Speaker of the House, said Steinem was “very instrumental in giving women the confidence and the courage to run for office.”
“Nothing is more wholesome than the increased participation of women,” she told MS NOW. “Gloria Steinem understood that.”
“Iconic is an inadequate word to describe her,” Pelosi said. “I loved her, and again, am grateful to her. I say, thank you, Gloria, again and again for making the world a different place for women to participate.”
MS NOW’s Stephanie Ruhle also paid tribute to the trailblazer. The “Money, Power, Politics” host delivered an emotional homage Thursday morning and spoke of her “enormous legacy,” telling viewers they should not “overlook how much the world has changed for the better because of Gloria.”
“There is so much she will be admired and remembered for, but for me, the truth is, if it was not for Gloria Steinem, I would not be in this chair leading this program today,” Ruhle said.
Ruhle became visibly emotional while speaking about how she believed Steinem represented a “fusion” of two things essential to the country’s success: “full and equal rights for women and great journalism that shines a light on injustices and can help motivate our country to change for the better.”
In a post on X, Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., said he “remember[s] well the huge impact Gloria Steinem had on [his] mother in the early 70s.”
“They’re the same age, and Gloria’s writing and advocacy helped my mom and countless other women during periods of challenge and change as they redefined their roles, fought discrimination, and tried to build a better world for women everywhere,” he wrote.
Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., said Steinem lived “an incredible life” and “taught us what it means to fight for reproductive rights and gender equality.” He added, “I know many, including myself, will miss her guiding light, but her legacy will live on in the community she created.”
Markle, Duchess of Sussex, also remembered Steinem, posting pictures of the pair on Instagram. In the caption, she called the feminist trailblazer a “friend and mentor.”
“Privately, she was even better than you would imagine — spending Thanksgiving with our family, introducing me to one of my best friends (forever the champion of female friendship), loving our children with her whole heart, counseling me during hard times, and giving extraordinary advice and perspective with a cup of tea and an unrivaled cheekiness and wit,” Markle wrote.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
The post Hillary Clinton, Kamala Harris remember Gloria Steinem: ‘Iconic’ is ‘inadequate’ appeared first on MS NOW.
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