Pogrebin Pays Tribute to Steinem As 'Least Egomaniacal Person' She Knew After Feminist Icon Dies at 92

Pogrebin first met Steinem at a women's conference in Washington DC in 1971, when she was an up-and-coming feminist author and journalist. She recalled being awed by Steinem but also realizing she had been on the wrong track by "asking women to adjust" to "a man's world" rather than organizing to change it, as the more senior activist was doing. The two women ended up comparing notes and brainstorming until the early hours of the following morning, and Steinem asked Pogrebin to come on board with a project she was developing — Ms magazine.

Pogrebin became a founding editor when it launched as an insert to New York magazine that December, featuring an image of the Hindu goddess Kali, pregnant and juggling time, work, household and appearance with her eight arms, and the strap line: the Housewife's Moment of Truth. The magazine had its own full debut issue early the following year with the cover blasting out: Wonder Woman for President.