Guardian Readers Share Memories of Feminist Icon Gloria Steinem

The Guardian has published a collection of reader memories honoring Gloria Steinem, the feminist campaigner whose writing and activism influenced generations of women, according to the publication.

The tributes, submitted by readers from multiple countries, describe Steinem as an inspiration who challenged sexism and confronted issues such as domestic violence throughout her public life, The Guardian reported.

Among the contributions was one from a reader identified as Teresa, based in Switzerland, who described the impact of Steinem's ideas on her career in engineering. "What I appreciated most about Gloria was she let me feel normal," Teresa wrote, recalling that she graduated as one of three women in an engineering class of more than 150 students. She added that Steinem's vision of feminism was one in which "a feminist was a woman that wanted to be judged for her capabilities and not her gender," calling the writer "very inspirational and empowering" when she first encountered her books as a young engineer.

The Guardian's collection of reader responses reflects broader sentiment about Steinem's role as a prominent voice in the women's movement, with contributors describing her courage, intelligence and warmth, according to the publication.