Gloria Steinem's Oppression Of Gender Roles

Society created boundaries and restrictions upon genders. Males became the dominant half of civilization, forcing women to be the submissive half. These roles led to contradicting beliefs, as some people supported this idea and some people opposed it. Gloria Steinem took a stand against patriarchy by writing “Women and Power”, writing “After Black Power, Women’s Liberation”, and writing Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions, and these actions resulted in her becoming a feminist leader, exposure of gender inequality, and drawing attention to the issue of underrepresentation of women in leadership.
Society has had to manage gender inequality throughout history. The gender roles were intensified after World War II. Once the men came back from
fighting the war, Americans were forced to adapt to a new lifestyle. Men were gone for a long time, forcing the women who were left behind to take on male roles in order to keep the civilization functioning properly. Women became comfortable with their new positions and it was no longer considered ‘male roles’. “Soon after the end of World War II, men returned home and eventually assumed their post-war occupations that some women were occupying” (Third Sight History). The women were forced out of their current positions and had to readjust their lifestyles. “As women were forced out of their wartime occupations and into the domesticity of the new American nuclear family, many women felt disenfranchised” (Third Sight History). After being influenced by the idea that women can not take on male roles, they began to feel incapable and worthless. This idea escalated as time went on, and respect towards women was diminishing. “The 38 percent of American women who worked in 1960 were largely limited jobs… Women were generally unwelcome in professional programs” (Tavaana). Women were not only seen as incapable of handling more advanced work by male, but society refused to allow them to attain more respectable status. Women began to recognize that they were being treated unequally. They desired to attain gender equality; many women came to express their beliefs. “...women’s liberation movement was determined to completely overthrow the patriarchy that they believed was oppressing every facet of women’s lives” (Tavaana). Women gathered together to put in the effort in attempt to eradicate patriarchy.
Within the vast group of people who did not support the divided gender roles, a few stood up to become a leader in fighting for gender equality, one being Gloria Steinem.
She does many things to advocate that patriarchy is unjust. “She became a freelance writer after college and grew more engaged in the women’s movement and feminism” (biography.com). She writes as well as lecture to promote the movement to fight for equal rights. “...American feminist, journalist, and social and political activist became nationally recognized as a leader… women’s liberation in late 1960s and 1970s” (whosyourhero.com). From the recognition Gloria got from advocating for equality, people saw her as a figure that embodies feminism, and she became recognized as a leader. “Without Gloria Steinem’s passionate zest for change and equality, women would not be where we are today” (Huffington Post). It took a great deal of effort for women to get to the point where they are seen with much greater respect. Women are able to attain same jobs as males, able to vote, and able do much more than the women living in the American society in the 1960s. Gloria Steinem became a face for equality and became a leader to inspired people to fight for equal
rights.
Gloria Steinem encourage people to fight for equality by publicly expressing her views in her writing. One of her first pieces was an article exposing the working conditions of Playboy Bunny women. She worked undercover as a bunny to infiltrate the operation. In Steinem’s Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions, she talks about this experience. “I Was a Playboy Bunny: sexualizing women was being publicized… Realizing that all women are Bunnies. Since feminism, I’ve finally stopped regretting that I wrote this article” (29-69). She highlights the repulsive use of sexism to appeal to men and other awful working conditions for women. Not only do the workers endure this kind of treatment, but all women do.