Ms. Gloria Steinem

June 1, 2020
Conkling (Heroism Begins with Her) provides a comprehensive biography of Gloria Steinem, often shining psychological insight onto the actions and writings of this icon of American feminism. Born in 1934 to parents who divorced when she was 10, Steinem’s childhood was difficult, dominated by poverty and her mentally ill mother’s need for care. After graduating from Smith College and spending time in India, Steinem pursued a journalism career. While supporting herself primarily as a writer, Steinem’s activism in political arenas—Vietnam War protests, migrant workers’ rights—gradually crystallized into a focus on feminist issues. Steinem consciously dedicated herself to feminism in 1969; since then, she has remained a leader of this movement, as a cofounder of Ms. magazine, as a speaker and essayist, and as a campaigner for women’s rights and representation. Though Steinem attributes her independence and feminist leanings to parental influences, experience and intellectual rigor contribute equally to her status. Conkling provides a clear, sensitive portrayal of one of the foremost feminists of the modern age. Back matter highlights the Ms. Foundation, provides timelines of Steinem’s life and American feminism, and more. Ages 12–up.