Gloria Steinem’s final essay reflects on feminism, equality, and the social changes she witnessed throughout her life.

For me, saying that I am a feminist has always meant that I believe in the social, economic, and political equality of all males and females of all races and groups. I know this sounds too simple to need a word, but equality is still the exception, not the rule.

Maybe we should call it egalitarianism, or even humanism. The difficulty with humanism is that it is often interpreted as being anti-religion, so I don’t think it is inclusive enough. Whatever we call it, the principle is simple: treating each of us as uniquely human. Race, gender, and class are real and important parts of our experiences, but they are also socially constructed and capable of change. Our shared humanity, by contrast, is constant and sacred.

Still, for some, it remains a mystery why women need a movement to distinguish their efforts toward equality. For me, it seems quite obvious.