Just finished reading about how Gloria Steinem helped bring women’s issues to the forefront of the national political stage in the early 1970s — particularly women’s right to reproductive freedom — after laying the groundwork in the late 1960s. Groundwork meaning, making her way into high-power political circles and finally mustering the courage to open her mouth and hold some sway.

The chapter is called Campaigning in the book Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions. Just can’t help but be in awe of Steinem for this amazing feat, despite my lingering disagreements with some of her opinions. It’s yet another example of how one person — or a relative few — can have a massive impact by speaking out against prejudice and discrimination. Of course, it always helps when the political/social climate is ripe.

From the way it was presented in the chapter, it sounds like Steinem actually may have even coined the term “reproductive freedom,” political platform language that provided for the right to have an abortion.