Ginny Wright on Steinem’s Role in Shaping Modern Womanhood

In honor of Gloria Steinem’s 90 years of advocacy, what do you believe is her most enduring contribution to women’s empowerment, and how has it inspired your own journey?

At a young age, I knew Gloria Steinem was a changemaker, but I did not fully grasp the depth of her impact on my generation. It wasn’t until I graduated from college and entered the workforce that I truly understood how her advocacy shaped my opportunities. Steinem’s relentless pursuit for workplace equality, pay equity, and anti-discrimination laws paved the way for Gen X women, ensuring that we faced fewer barriers and less harassment than the generations before us. She challenged the traditional gender norms and redefined expectations of motherhood, making it possible for women to pursue both career and family without the same societal judgment our working mothers endured. As a CEO, mother, daughter, and women’s rights advocate, my success can be directly traced back to Gloria Steinem’s work and commitment to women’s equality.