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Gloria Steinem’s early days as a feminist activist are explored in the new FX on Hulu series Mrs. America. She was considered the face of the women’s liberation movement of the ’70s and played a major behind-the-scenes role in the fight for the Equal Rights Amendment. Her words—arguments crafted on the pages of Ms. magazine and in her speeches—helped shape the narrative surrounding equality, and still resonate to this day.
In October 2019, Steinem released a collection of some of her best quotes in the book The Truth Will Set You Free, But First It Will Piss You Off! (also a Steinem quote). In celebration of her latest onscreen depiction, we’ve collected 50 of our favorite inspirational quotes and biting one-liners from Steinem.
Teen Vogue, August 2011
Tufts University commencement speech, May 1987
Roundtable discussion of gender relations at Yale University, February 2010
Steinem’s Ms. piece “In Praise of Women’s Bodies,” April 1982
The Los Angeles Times op-ed, September 2008
Interview magazine, July 2011
Revolution from Within: A Book of Self-Esteem, January 1993
Marilyn, July 1997
Revolution from Within: A Book of Self-Esteem, January 1993
CNN Films’ Girl Rising documentary, June 2013
The New York Times op-ed, August 1971
The Truth Will Set You Free, But First It Will Piss You Off! October 2019
Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions, January 1983
Moving Beyond Words, May 1994
Chicago Tribune, April 2003
“How to Survive a Revolution” in Time, March 1992
Steinem’s book My Life on the Road, October 2015
3rd Annual Women & Power Conference speech, September 2004
Steinem’s Ms. piece “In Praise of Women’s Bodies,” April 1982
Chicago Tribune, April 2003
Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions, January 1983
On the Rag podcast, November 2019
A conversation with Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the Supreme Court (via The New York Times), November 2015
People, December 2000
Testimony before Senate on the Equal Rights Amendment, May 1970
Time magazine, March 2020
Tory Burch Embrace Ambition Summit speech, March 2020