Gloria Steinem, a prominent leader of the second wave of feminism in the United States, has died at the age of 92, her foundation announced Thursday on social media.

Steinem "passed away peacefully at her home in New York City" on Wednesday, the foundation said. "Gloria's near-century on earth were years well-lived, and she continued working for equality until the very end," it added. "Gloria lived true to her independent spirit, always with curiosity and a great sense of humor."

Steinem became one of the most visible symbols of the US women's movement, helping lead the country's second wave of feminism. She was a fierce advocate for feminist causes throughout her life, spending most of her time on the road, speaking at college campuses, community centers, rallies, and marches.

Born on March 25, 1935, in Toledo, Ohio, Steinem did not attend school regularly until around seventh grade due to her father's work as a traveling antique dealer. Her parents separated when she was 11, forcing her to care for her mother, who suffered from depression and had a mental breakdown. This early experience shaped her belief that marriage robbed women of choices and civil rights.

After graduating from Smith College, she began freelancing as a journalist. In 1963, she briefly worked as a Playboy bunny, an experience that led to her groundbreaking exposé "A Bunny's Tale" for Show magazine, revealing poor pay and sexist treatment.

She later co-founded New York Magazine in 1968, and her essay "After Black Power, Women's Liberation" is credited with launching her as a feminist leader. Her activism truly began a year later when she attended an abortion speak-out in a New York church, a topic deeply personal to her as she had undergone an illegal abortion in London at age 22.

Source: www.dw.com