Gloria Steinem's Feminism, Centered on Abortion, Was Anti-Woman
Source: Jordan Boyd. "Gloria Steinem’s Belief That Female Success Requires Abortion Is Sad And Anti-Woman." September 4, 2026. thefederalist.com
The Gist
The author argues that Gloria Steinem's feminism was actually harmful to women because it taught them that success required rejecting motherhood and embracing abortion. Rather than truly empowering women, this philosophy is criticized for treating pregnancy as a problem to solve rather than a valuable part of womanhood, and for ignoring the harms abortion causes to women.
Conclusion
Gloria Steinem's brand of feminism, which framed abortion as necessary for female empowerment and success, was actually reductionist, insulting, and anti-woman rather than genuinely pro-woman.
Premises
- Steinem consistently treated pregnancy and motherhood as obstacles to women's success and happiness rather than valuable aspects of womanhood.
- Steinem's feminism dismissed and denigrated marriage, motherhood, and household labor as forms of oppression or 'semi-non person' status.
- Steinem personally framed her own abortion as an empowering act of 'taking responsibility' for her life, teaching women that rejecting motherhood via abortion is liberating.
- Steinem dedicated her career and resources primarily to advancing abortion access, treating it as the central pillar of women's rights.
- Abortion is documented to cause physical, emotional, and mental harm to women, making it not the empowering act Steinem portrayed.
- True support for women requires valuing their unique reproductive capacity rather than treating it as an inconvenience to be eliminated for career or lifestyle goals.
Assumptions
- A woman's reproductive capacity and motherhood role should be considered central to her identity and value as a woman.
- Feminism should prioritize traditional family structures (marriage, motherhood) as inherently beneficial rather than optional or oppressive.
- Abortion is morally equivalent to killing a child, not merely a medical or reproductive choice.
- Genuine empowerment cannot involve terminating a pregnancy, regardless of individual circumstances.
- The harms associated with abortion (physical, emotional, mental) are primarily caused by the procedure itself rather than by surrounding social, economic, or personal circumstances.