Pioneering journalist, writer and women’s rights activist leaves behind a decades-long legacy of fighting sexism, advancing gender equality and championing reproductive rights.

Gloria Steinem, the influential American feminist activist, journalist and writer who became one of the leading voices of the women’s liberation movement, has died at the age of 92.

Her foundation said Steinem died peacefully at her home in New York City, surrounded by people who loved her.

Steinem rose to prominence as a journalist in New York during the 1970s, using her writing and public platform to challenge sexism and advocate for women’s rights. She went on to become one of the most recognisable figures in the American feminist movement.

More than five decades ago, she co-founded the Women’s Action Alliance, an organisation established to combat sexism and promote equality.

She also co-founded Ms. magazine, which became one of the pioneering publications dedicated to women’s rights and issues, challenging traditional expectations surrounding women, domestic life and beauty.

Steinem was particularly prominent in the campaign for women’s reproductive rights during the 1970s. She supported the US Supreme Court’s landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, which recognised a constitutional right to abortion, but lived to see the decision overturned nearly five decades later.

Beyond her activism, Steinem built a distinguished career as a writer, editor and public speaker, helping bring women’s rights issues into mainstream political and cultural debate.

Her work influenced generations of activists and contributed to reshaping conversations about gender equality in the United States and beyond.

Her foundation announced her death in an Instagram statement, saying she had died peacefully at her New York home.

Steinem leaves behind a lasting legacy as one of the most prominent figures in the modern American women’s rights movement, whose activism and journalism helped shape the fight for gender equality for generations.