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GLORIA STEINEM TO SPEAK AT WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY
In her lecture, titled "Imagine a Future in Which Everyone Matters," Steinem will discuss the important issues facing women today. The lecture is co-sponsored by the William Paterson Women's Center and is the finale of Twilight and Dawn, a series of events commemorating the end of the 20th century and birth of the new millennium. Steinem, who defined feminism as simply "the belief that women are full human beings," has dedicated her entire life to the women's liberation movement and to addressing women's issues. Born March 25, 1934 to Leo and Ruth Steinem in Toledo, Ohio, Steinem spent most of her childhood caring for her mother who suffered from severe depression. Despite a difficult childhood, Steinem graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Smith College in 1956 and spent two years traveling and pursuing independent study in India. Moving to New York City, Steinem pursued a career in journalism and soon became a regular contributor to Esquire, Glamour, and other magazines. Although she wanted to report on important political issues of the day, her male editors assigned her celebrity interviews and suggested she go undercover as a Playboy bunny waitress. Steinem accepted the mission and wrote an investigative article about the exploitations of New York's Playboy Club. Soon afterward, she was writing a weekly political column for New York magazine, and covering everything from the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. to United Farm Workers demonstrations by Cesar Chavez. Steinem not only reported on events, but also joined many of the efforts. She marched, spoke and helped raise money for causes she backed. As the women's movement progressed, Steinem's entire literary focus shifted to explaining the theories of "new feminism" to a wide audience. In 1972, Steinem co-founded and served as editor of Ms. Magazine, the first upscale magazine to address women's issues. She remained in this position for the next 15 years, while Ms. Magazine was the chief medium for American feminism. Steinem also founded the Ms. Foundation for Women, the National Women's Political Caucus, and the Coalition of Labor Union Women. Her books include the bestsellers "Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions" (1983) and "Revolution from Within: A Book of Self-Esteem" (1992). For all her accomplishments, Steinem was named Woman of the Year in 1972 by McCall's magazine. In 1993, she was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, New York. William Paterson University, one of the nine state colleges and universities in New Jersey, is dedicated to two key principles: academic excellence and student success. The University offers 29 undergraduate and 17 graduate programs to nearly 10,000 students, and has 352 full-time faculty. For more information, contact Carol Gruber, history professor and coordinator of Twilight and Dawn, at 973-720-3047.
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Gloria Steinem,
one of the most influential feminist leaders of the 20th century
and founder of Ms. Magazine, will present a lecture at William
Paterson University in Wayne on Wednesday, April 26 from 3:30
to 5 p.m. in Science Hall 200A. The lecture is free and open
to the public.