An Unexpected Life by Gloria Steinem review
The activist’s memoir, due to be published this month, now stands as a posthumous testament to her remarkable life
TL;DR
- Gloria Steinem's posthumous memoir, 'An Unexpected Life,' offers a look at her life and activism.
- Her childhood was marked by poverty, a travelling salesman father, and caring for a mentally unwell mother, which shaped her resilience.
- Steinem pursued a career as a freelance writer and activist, co-founding Ms. magazine in 1971.
- She faced financial instability for much of her life but found security later, ultimately dying in her beloved Manhattan brownstone.
- The memoir touches on the challenges women faced in the 1960s, including wage gaps and limited opportunities in education.
- Steinem had a critical view of Andy Warhol, contrasting his sensibility with her own earnestness.
- She valued her relationship with Native Americans, seeing it as a basis for her insights into family structures.
- Steinem married late in life to David Bale, emphasizing her belief in pursuing personal fulfillment.
- Her final message encourages continuous learning and appreciating the journey of life, even in older age.