The Gloria Steinem I knew

I first met Gloria Steinem at the Café des Artistes in October 1997. That bohemian spot in Lower Manhattan was the feminist writer Andrea Dworkin’s favorite meeting place. She once told me that she often held “feminist mafia” summits in its backroom. Indeed, visiting Dworkin was the main purpose of my trip to New York that year; I’d asked for her help to establish an international campaign to improve criminal justice responses to rape and sexual assault. And Dworkin was Steinem’s close friend and feminist ally. A number of feminist icons were at the Café that day — but all heads turned when Steinem walked in. Dressed in skintight jeans, heeled boots, a brightly colored cowl-neck sweater and eye-catching jewelry, she oozed confidence. She looked so different from the rest of us, dutifully c