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Robin Morgan, Second-Wave Feminist Pioneer and Child Star, Dies at 85

Confirmed1 source · Sep 5, 2026

The poet, editor, and activist who co-founded the Women's Media Center and shaped modern feminism has died.

Robin Morgan, Second-Wave Feminist Pioneer and Child Star, Dies at 85
Image via The Guardian

What happened

Robin Morgan died at age 85; her death was confirmed Saturday by the Women's Media Center, which she co-founded with Jane Fonda and Gloria Steinem. The announcement did not specify the location, date, or cause of death. Morgan began her career as a child star in the 1940s and 50s, appearing in films and television, before becoming a prominent figure in second-wave feminism during the 1960s and 70s.

Context

Morgan was central to defining moments of the modern women's movement. In 1968, she helped organize the first Miss America pageant protest; in 1970, she edited Sisterhood Is Powerful, widely considered an essential text of contemporary feminism. She is credited with coining the term "herstory" and popularizing the clenched fist/female symbol icon of the liberation movement. Her poem Monster, with lines like "I want a women's revolution like a lover," became a rallying cry at feminist events. Beyond activism, Morgan published over 20 books, was editor-in-chief of Ms. magazine, founded the Sisterhood Is Global Institute in 1984, and launched the Women's Media Center in 2005—all aimed at advancing women's visibility and decision-making power. She continued work despite a Parkinson's diagnosis, hosting a syndicated radio show and delivering a TEDWomen talk in 2015. Her death comes days after Gloria Steinem's.

What's disputed

The source notes that the bra-tossing at the 1968 Miss America protest was "soon mythologized as burning," indicating the actual burning of bras is commonly reported but the source does not confirm it occurred.