When Gloria Steinem visited the Writers Institute

News of the feminist icon's death sent us back to our archives

We learned today of the passing of Gloria Steinem, died Sept. 2 at her home in Manhattan at the age of 92. News of her death was accompanied by a lengthy New York Times obituary that traced her evolution from journalist to feminist icon,

In the obituary, Katharine Q. Seelye writes:

"For more than half a century, she personified the women’s movement and became its most enduring symbol; her tinted aviator glasses and curtain of streaked-blond hair parted in the center made her one of the most recognizable women in the world."

In 1988, Steinem appeared at the NYS Writers Institute before a large audience at Page Hall on the Downtown UAlbany Campus. A poster from that event hangs in our offices.

The event was widely publicized in the local media and well attended.

Following the December 1st event, Susanne Dumbleton, a professor at the Albany College of Pharmacy, wrote a letter addressed to William Kennedy and Tom Smith to express her gratitude. The letter is preserved in our Writers Institute archives:

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In her own words

Long before social media, Gloria Steinem had a gift for distilling her thoughts into memorable quotes that traveled through the pre-Internet era. She complied a collection in a 2019 book 2019 titled The Truth Will Set You Free, But First It Will Piss You Off! The Associated Press published a list of her compiled a best of. Here's an excerpt:

On being judged by her looks, even as a feminist

“Nobody ever called me beautiful until I was publicly a feminist, and that was in my mid-30s. It was clear that label was being assigned to me. The most hurtful part is that you work very hard, and people say it’s because of your looks.” (August 2011)

On America’s lack of a female president

“We live in a democracy that’s one of the few in the world that’s never had a female elected leader. That’s kind of ridiculous. I mean, we’re choosing from half the country’s talent” (March 2026)

On the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade

“Obviously, without the right of women and men to make decisions about our own bodies, there is no democracy.” (June 2022)

On deciding to marry at age 66

“I hadn’t changed — marriage had changed.” (August 2011)

On whether she regretted not having children

“No, not for a millisecond.” (August 2011)

On the early years of the women’s rights movement

“When people were saying, ‘You’re all bra-burners and all that,’ we had to work very hard to be taken seriously. We were still having to prove that women were being discriminated against.” (August 1987)

On her work as a writer

“I know I’m doing the right thing by writing, because it’s the only thing I do that doesn’t make me feel guilty.” (April 1970)