Gloria Steinem speaks at the SMCR conference, June 2013 // Photo by Carly Schneider
Just eight weeks after having been honored with the first Making Menstruation Matter Award by the Society for Menstrual Cycle Research at its conference in New York City, the White House announced on Thursday, August 8, that President Obama will bestow the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, on Gloria Steinem at this year’s ceremony at the Kennedy Center. She will be joined by former President Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey and 13 others who have made outstanding contributions to American life.
There are few others who have done as much as Ms. Steinem to advance the cause of women’s rights including reproductive health care, education, employment, political involvement, and, of course, reducing the stigmas that surround the menstrual cycle.
In announcing the names of this year’s honorees, President Obama’s statement read in part, “This year’s honorees have been blessed with extraordinary talent, but what sets them apart is their gift for sharing that talent with the world.” Everyone who attended the SMCR gathering at Marymount Manhattan College in June and heard Ms. Steinem’s address in accepting the Society’s honor would surely say “Amen!” to that description. To get the full sense of the depth of her insights and the passion that has motivated her achievements, the full text of her remarks is available here.
The Society for Menstrual Cycle Research is pleased to add our collective voice in tribute to Gloria Steinem on the announcement of this well-deserved recognition.
