Published: 11:16 AM, 21 September 2026
We Must Carry Forward the Torch Gloria Steinem Has Left Behind
Kabita Banerjee
For more than half a century Gloria Steinem has stood as one of the most recognizable voices of the modern women's rights movement. As a journalist, author, organizer and activist she helped bring questions of gender equality into the center of public debate. Her work challenged social assumptions about women and encouraged generations to question institutions that treated equality as an aspiration rather than a right. Today her legacy offers an important lesson: social progress does not sustain itself. Every generation must protect the gains of the past while continuing the unfinished work of equality. Gloria Steinem died a few days ago aged 92.
Steinem emerged as a prominent feminist voice during a period when women in the United States faced extensive legal, economic and social barriers. Many women had limited opportunities in education and employment while discriminatory practices shaped their access to professional careers. Questions surrounding reproductive rights, equal pay, workplace discrimination and political representation were increasingly becoming subjects of public discussion.
As a writer Steinem used journalism to examine the experiences of women and to challenge stereotypes. Her reporting and essays helped demonstrate that issues traditionally dismissed as private matters could have profound public and political consequences. Questions about domestic work, sexual discrimination and women's economic dependence were not simply individual problems. They were connected to broader structures within society.
Her influence grew through her participation in the feminist movement. Steinem became associated with organizations and campaigns that sought greater political and economic equality for women. She was a founding figure of Ms. magazine which became an important platform for feminist writing and public discussion. The publication helped bring women's experiences into mainstream journalism while providing space for writers to address subjects that were often ignored by traditional media.
One of Steinem's enduring contributions was her insistence that equality should not be understood narrowly. Women's rights involve more than access to a particular profession or the right to vote. They include the freedom to make decisions about one's own life the opportunity to receive equal treatment under the law and the ability to participate fully in economic and political life.
Her activism also emphasized the importance of solidarity. Women do not experience discrimination in identical ways. Economic circumstances race age disability geography and other social conditions can influence the opportunities available to individuals. A movement for equality therefore has to recognize differences while maintaining a common commitment to dignity and equal rights.
Steinem's legacy is particularly relevant to young people. Many young women today have opportunities that were more difficult to obtain for previous generations. Women participate extensively in universities professional careers public institutions business science and the arts. Yet progress in one generation does not guarantee permanent progress in the next.
The world continues to face serious gender-related challenges. Women in many countries remain underrepresented in political institutions and senior business positions. Wage differences continue to concern policymakers and workers. Women may also face harassment violence discrimination and unequal responsibilities for unpaid care work. In some communities girls still face barriers to education and employment.
Technology has created new opportunities but it has also produced new forms of inequality. Women working in technology and other male-dominated fields can encounter barriers to advancement. Online platforms can expose women to harassment and abuse. Artificial intelligence may reproduce existing social biases when systems are trained on incomplete or discriminatory data. The pursuit of technological progress must therefore be accompanied by attention to fairness and accountability.
The economic dimension of equality deserves particular attention. A society cannot make full use of its human resources when talented people are prevented from contributing because of gender. When women can obtain education find employment build businesses and participate in decision-making the benefits extend beyond individual households. Families communities and national economies can benefit from greater participation.
Education remains one of the most powerful instruments for continuing this work. Girls should have the same opportunities as boys to pursue education in science technology engineering mathematics the humanities and the arts. Education can expand economic opportunity while also helping young people understand concepts such as equality dignity consent and civic responsibility.
Workplaces also have a responsibility. Equal opportunity should not end with recruitment. Employees need fair promotion systems transparent compensation policies safe working conditions and effective mechanisms for addressing harassment and discrimination. Employers who create inclusive workplaces can benefit from a broader range of skills and perspectives.
Political institutions have an equally important role. Laws protecting equality are necessary but implementation matters just as much. Citizens must be able to access justice when their rights are violated. Public institutions should also ensure that women can participate meaningfully in political decision-making.
Yet carrying forward Steinem's legacy does not mean simply repeating the language or strategies of the past. Every generation faces different circumstances. The issues confronting young women today include digital harassment climate-related displacement economic insecurity changing family structures and the transformation of work through automation. The principles of equality remain relevant but the methods used to advance them must evolve.
There is also a lesson in Steinem's career about the power of journalism. A free and responsible press can expose discrimination and amplify voices that might otherwise be ignored. Journalists can investigate workplace abuses examine unequal access to public services and report on policies affecting women. At the same time journalism must avoid reducing complex social questions to stereotypes or sensational stories.
Men and boys must also be part of the conversation. Gender equality is not a struggle that women should be expected to carry alone. Boys who learn to respect equality and reject discrimination can contribute to healthier schools workplaces and communities. Fathers who share household responsibilities and employers who support equal opportunity can help transform social expectations.
The role of families is equally important. Children often learn ideas about gender from what they see at home. When families encourage daughters and sons equally to study explore careers express opinions and take responsibility they help break down restrictive stereotypes. Small changes in everyday behavior can contribute to larger cultural change.
It is also important to recognize that progress can be uneven. Legal reforms may occur before social attitudes change. Economic opportunities may expand while discrimination continues in less visible forms. Public discussion may become more inclusive while marginalized groups still struggle to have their concerns heard. Measuring progress therefore requires attention to both formal rights and lived experiences.
Steinem's public life demonstrates that change often begins with people willing to ask uncomfortable questions. Movements for social reform rarely produce immediate results. They require persistence organization public education and participation. Individuals who challenge established assumptions may encounter criticism but their efforts can influence institutions and public attitudes over time.
The next generation must therefore treat equality as an ongoing responsibility rather than a completed project. Young people can participate through education community organizations journalism public service entrepreneurship and civic engagement. They can challenge discrimination in their own environments while supporting policies and institutions that promote equal opportunity.
The torch that Steinem helped carry was not simply a symbol of feminism. It represented the broader idea that people should have the opportunity to live with dignity and exercise meaningful control over their own lives. Carrying that torch forward requires both remembering the struggles that produced past progress and recognizing the challenges that remain.
There is no single path toward equality. Different communities will face different priorities. Some may focus on education while others concentrate on workplace rights political representation or protection from violence. What connects these efforts is the belief that a person's opportunities should not be determined by gender.
The task before today's generation is therefore clear. We must preserve hard-won rights while identifying new forms of inequality. We must encourage young women to lead while ensuring that institutions are prepared to hear their voices. We must use technology to expand opportunity rather than reproduce discrimination. We must support journalism that investigates injustice and we must build workplaces schools and communities where equality is reflected in everyday life.
Gloria Steinem's greatest legacy may ultimately be the idea that ordinary people can participate in extraordinary social change. Her career shows the importance of speaking publicly organizing collectively and refusing to accept inequality as inevitable.
The torch she helped carry now belongs to a new generation. Carrying it forward does not require imitation. It requires courage curiosity persistence and a willingness to continue asking whether our institutions and communities live up to the principles of equality they proclaim.
The work is unfinished. We must carry forward the torch Gloria Steinem has left behind not simply by honoring her achievements but by continuing the pursuit of a society in which every person has the freedom opportunity and dignity to reach their full potential.
Kabita Banerjee is an author and translator based in Houston, USA.
