Gloria Steinem, women’s rights leader, dies at 92, with Florida legacy and Miami history
Gloria Steinem, the journalist and activist who helped shape the modern women’s rights movement, has died at 92.
Her influence stretched across the country, including Palm Beach County, where she spent decades supporting women’s rights, local candidates and grassroots causes.
For local activists who knew and worked with her, Steinem’s legacy inspired generations of women to recognize their worth and use their voices.
Former president of Palm Beach County NOW Sheila Jaffe said Steinem understood the importance of supporting women and candidates who shared her values.
“When we asked her, she never hesitated. She said, ‘I’ll be there,’ and she was,” Jaffe said.
Jaffe said Steinem’s willingness to show up and support local efforts gave women in Palm Beach County the confidence to take action themselves.
“I think she gave us the courage to step forward and do things we never thought we’d be able to do,” Jaffe said.
Steinem co-founded Ms. magazine and the National Women’s Political Caucus. She became a prominent voice for gender equality, reproductive rights and women’s political participation.
Her work eventually earned her the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Among the women influenced by Steinem is U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, who said Steinem’s message stayed with her throughout her career.
“Gloria Steinem was truly an inspirational person for me personally,” Frankel said. “She encouraged women to know their worth, to know that you could excel in any area of life…I started with that message from her in college, and it stayed with me my whole life.”
Steinem’s connection to Palm Beach County dates back decades. She spoke in Palm Beach as early as 1971 and returned during the 2000 presidential recount.
She also appeared at events in West Palm Beach and Palm Beach over the years, continuing to lend her voice to local causes and candidates.
For the women she inspired locally, her legacy is not only the national movement she helped build, but the women she encouraged to lead in their own communities.
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