I and many others looked forward to a luncheon with Dress for Success, a women's workforce development organization, at the end of September. Gloria Steinem was scheduled to be the keynote speaker sharing her insights on "the importance of empowering women to create meaningful change," per the invitation. Steinem died on Wednesday.
"Gloria's unwavering commitment to women's equality, opportunity, and empowerment helped shape generations of changemakers and inspired countless individuals to raise their voices, pursue their ambitions, and challenge barriers," Joanie Bily, CEO of Dress for Success Worldwide, said in a statement provided to CNBC Make It. The organization plans to pay tribute to Steinem's "life, legacy and impact" at the luncheon.
The news of Steinem's death shocked and saddened me and many around the world who have since shared tributes. A trailblazing icon of the feminist movement, Steinem will be remembered for her journalistic pursuits — co-founding Ms. Magazine and New York Magazine — along with her staunch activism pushing for women's civil and reproductive rights.
Steinem's health had declined recently, according to the Associated Press, but she hadn't publicly disclosed an illness or given other health updates that may have made her passing seem less sudden. In a similar fashion back in May, Dolly Parton revealed some health issues in a video posted to Instagram and announced she was canceling a Las Vegas residency slated for September. She said she still needed time to heal and couldn't yet perform, but assured her fans she was still working. Parton died on August 25.
