Why Gloria Steinem Never Had Children—and How She Felt About the Decision Shortly Before She Died

Hannah MalachThu, September 3, 2026 at 8:31 PM UTC

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Gloria Steinem in 2022.Credit: Getty ImagesThe Gist -

Gloria Steinem died at the age of 92 on September 2.

Last year, the feminist icon and activist was interviewed by makeup artist Bobbi Brown.

Brown asked Steinem if she regretted her decision not to have any kids.

Roughly a year before her death, Gloria Steinem opened up in an interview with makeup artist Bobbi Brown last March about why she never wanted children. The feminist icon died on September 2 at the age of 92.

Brown hosted Steinem on her YouTube series “I Am Me,” where she asked the activist if she wished she’d had kids.

Gloria Steinem on February 2, 2026.Credit: Getty Images

“No, no, absolutely not,” Steinem said. “I’m not sure why except perhaps because when I was growing up, I was looking after my mother, who was not well. I’ve noticed that other people who were small people looking after big people don’t want to do it again.”

Steinem didn’t marry until her 60s, tying the knot with David Bale—father of actor Christian Bale—in 2000. David died three years later following a battle with cancer.

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Gloria Steinem in 2020.Credit: Getty

To her credit, Steinem had valid reasons for waiting so long to marry: “I didn’t change. Marriage changed,” she said in Karen Karbo’s book In Praise of Difficult Women. “We spent 30 years in the United States changing the marriage laws. If I had married when I was supposed to get married, I would have lost my name, my legal residence, my credit rating, many of my civil rights.”

On September 3, Steinem’s death was announced via social media. A portrait of the late magazine editor was uploaded to her Instagram account with the following caption: “Yesterday, Gloria Steinem passed away peacefully at her home in New York City, surrounded by some of the many who loved her,” it began.

David Bale and Gloria Steinem in 2003.Credit: Getty Images

“Gloria’s near-century on earth were years well-lived, and she continued working for equality until the very end,” the statement continued. “Gloria’s greatest gift was her ability to listen to others, to make others feel seen and heard. Her words, actions, and example gave people permission to be their truest selves.”

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”