While
many praise Gloria Steinem's efforts for women's liberation and rights,
elements of her background were questionable. During Steinem's youth she worked
for the Independent Research Service. The organization founded by the CIA was
designed to counter World Youth Festivals. These gatherings were held by
communists and Marxists to promote socialist ideas. It was design to inspire
the next generation of socialists and revolutionaries. American youth were
unaware they were being used for intelligence gathering or efforts at sabotage.
Gloria Steinem's activities in the Independent Research Service were controversial. During an interview
Gloria Steinem did not condemn the CIA, but spoke of it as a liberal
institution. The intelligence organization was responsible for destabilization,
violence, and various intrigues across the Third World in the Cold War era. The
CIA continues to be a threat to Global South nations in the present. No record
exists of Gloria Steinem continuing to work as a CIA asset. Critics assert to
criticize her involvement is nothing more than ludicrous conspiracy theory. No
one can be an activist for social justice if they work for the power structure.
The feminism she promoted was about obtaining power for white women, while
leaving others behind. This added more division to the civil rights movement.
Despite this, Steinem was anointed social justice icon.
