Breaking the Glass Ceiling with Glossy Pages
When Ms. hit newsstands as a one-shot insert in New York magazine, no one could have predicted the seismic shift it would cause in publishing and society. Born from the fertile minds of Steinem and her co-founders, including Dorothy Pitman Hughes, Ms. wasn’t just a magazine; it was a manifesto. For the first time, a glossy dared to centre women’s lives, struggles, and triumphs without pandering to the male gaze—or even acknowledging it.
With Steinem’s wry wit and intellectual heft at the helm, the publication tackled taboo topics head-on. Articles on abortion, domestic violence, and workplace inequities gave women a vocabulary to express frustrations they’d long been told to swallow. Its first cover, emblazoned with a Wonder Woman illustration, signalled the arrival of a new kind of heroine: unapologetically feminist.
The New York Media Scene: Boys Beware
Launching a women-only magazine in New York, then a playground for male editors, was a gamble bordering on rebellion. Steinem, a journalist who had once gone undercover as a Playboy Bunny to expose sexism, knew her mission was bigger than circulation numbers. She weaponized Ms. as a megaphone for the burgeoning women’s liberation movement, amplifying voices that mainstream media sidelined.
The magazine thrived, proving there was a hungry readership for content about equality rather than homemaking tips or beauty regimens. As Steinem famously quipped, “The truth will set you free. But first, it will piss you off.” Ms. did plenty of both.
A Legacy Beyond Print
Though the heyday of Ms. as a must-read has passed, its impact remains undeniable. Steinem’s
work laid the groundwork for women-focused media outlets today, from Bitch Media to Bustle. It also redefined what women could expect from their newsstands—and their society.
Gloria Steinem’s Unfading Star
At 90, Gloria Steinem is as influential as ever, mentoring new generations of activists while staying sharp as a pin with her critiques of modern feminism. Her creation of Ms. is a reminder that a magazine can be more than paper and ink; it can be a revolution in 8.5 x 11 inches.
Steinem didn’t just edit a magazine—she edited history. And she made damn sure it passed the
Bechdel Test.
Main image: Centre Civic Navas Barcelona/Pixabay,
