By Cam Ostrow

When I was 16 years old and feminism was only just beginning to dawn on me, I did what every young and aspiring feminist inevitably does: I Googled “Gloria Steinem.” The first time, I found a wikipedia page, which I could barely find the focus to skim, and the second time, I found a list of her beliefs and accomplishments that didn’t really mean anything to me. But the third time…the third time I found “If Men Could Menstruate,” and I fell in love.

That’s the thing about Gloria Steinem: You can’t just hear about her or read a biography of her socialist/feminist banter to understand even a fragment of her prowess. Instead, you have to read her words or hear her speak in order to fully appreciate just how much she means to the feminist world.  That is why I recommend that everyone in the world watch HBO’s new biopic Gloria: In Her Own Words.

Gloria Steinem is simply amazing.  The hour-long documentary is striking not only because it reminds us of how far we haven’t come, but what stuck out the most was when Steinem references the ever-persistent backlash and assumptions surrounding “bra-burning feminists.”  The film also shows how far we have come, namely through those hysterical anti-feminist 50’s media pieces; the most outlandish of which is some Richard-Simmons-like-maniac called Glenn Beck. (Oh, wait he’s not from the 50’s is he? Woops.)

But even more than that, the film displays Steinem’s humanity: from the emotional hurt she feels at the backlash against her, to her sexuality and relationship with her parents. The film is a perfect portrayal of Steinem and her vision because it effectively communicates what is at the heart of her message: humanity.

Gloria Steinem has always stood for humanity, and she makes that clear through the fact that she isn’t just some stoic politician who will scream at anyone who defies her. She has feelings, and she uses those feelings in order to drive her purpose; whether her purpose is pro-choice rallies, genital mutilation protests, or simply calling Richard Nixon out on being a dick, Steinem does everything whole-heartedly.

I guess what the movie reminded me of the most is how vastly underappreciated women like Gloria Steinem really are.  She is just the best.  And I’m tired of young women saying they only like feminists who aren’t “angry bra-burners,” because that kind of mentality really sucks. If I wasn’t so afraid of how my boobs might look in an H&M tube-top without a bra, I would burn mine also…but I am afraid.

And that’s the difference between me and Gloria Steinem–and between Steinem and so many other women of my generation.  It’s not that Steinem was anti-feminine or anything like that, and I’m not saying that a “true feminist” would burn her bra; I’m just saying that I think it would do us all some good and give this movement a nice kick in the butt if we would emulate Steinem by truly pushing the envelope in order to promote humanity.

So here’s to you, Gloria Steinem. I will love you forever, and you can use my lighter to burn your bra anytime you want.