Gloria Steinem is an acclaimed author, speaker, and leader of the women’s movement. Her book My Life on the Road recounts her journey as a young woman searching for her true identity and place in the world. Through her accounts of activism, travel, and personal relationships, Steinem shares a captivating story of enduring faith and commitment in the face of personal and societal challenges.
The book opens with an exploration of Steinem’s childhood, which was full of wanderlust and exploration. Raised in Ohio by her mother, grandmother and stepfather, she was exposed to divergent opinions at an early age. Despite this, Steinem was certain that there was more to life than the “nuclear family” she grew up in; and it was this need for exploration that led her to take various jobs and travel throughout the United States and beyond.
Throughout her travels, Steinem writes openly and candidly about her encounters with people from all walks of life. She writes of those she encountered who were hungry for a cause, often times the same cause that she had devoted her life to: Women’s rights. While on the road, she met and forged relationships with individuals who she now calls her “sisters” and “brothers in arms.”
After her travels, Steinem eventually ended up in New York, where she worked as a freelance journalist. It was during this time that she wrote her most famous essay, “A Political Environment,” which was published in Esquire in 1972. This essay is seen as a watershed moment in the women’s rights movement and has since become a rallying cry for many feminists. After its initial publication, Steinem continued to use her journey and her writing to articulate topics that had gone unmentioned in the mainstream press and earned her the title of “The Voice of the Women’s Movement.”
Throughout the book, Steinem shares her innermost thoughts and feelings about her life. She openly reflects on her role as an activist and her motivations for fighting for equality and justice. She also openly acknowledges the mistakes she’s made along the way, and how these have contributed to her growth as a person. Through her stories and experiences, the reader is given a glimpse into the world of women’s rights and the individuals who helped to shape the movement.
My Life on the Road is an inspiring read for those interested in Steinem’s story and the fight for women’s rights. Steinem’s voice is an honest yet passionate one, and readers will find themselves mesmerized by her journey of self-discovery and social activism. By unearthing her personal and professional revelations, Steinem is able to offer an intimate window into a part of history that often goes overlooked. For these reasons and more, this book is a necessary read.
