Gloria Steinem discusses the inequalities and prejudices young women can expect to face, during her commencement speech at Smith College in 1971. This was originally broadcast on WFCR’s Five College Forum.
After Steinem graduated from the college herself in 1956, she spent two years in India. While there she wrote about and studied grass roots movements from the followers of Gandhi. She moved back to the United States in 1960, to New York. There, she started her career as a freelance writer, writing for magazines such as Esquire, Glamour, Life, and many other publications. During the 1960’s Steinem was involved in many social movements such as the United Farmworkers Movement, and the Vietnam War Tax Protest.
In 1969 Steinem attended a meeting of radical feminists, which led to the founding of the Redstockings. After listening to women talk about their abortion experiences she became heavily involved in the women’s movement for equal rights. She went on to help found organizations such as Ms. Foundation for Women and The Women’s Action Alliance.
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