The Glorias 2020

A Greyhound bus travels along the highway, hosting a collection of Glorias, portraying the iconic Gloria Steinem at various stages of her life. This ensemble of women reflects on their past experiences, with the narrative beginning in Gloria’s childhood. Young Gloria, played by Ryan Kiera Armstrong, is captivated by her antique salesman father whose resourcefulness often frustrates her mother. However, a shift occurs when her parents separate and young Gloria assumes the role of caregiver for her mother, who succumbs to depression. As she cleans and rummages through her mother’s items, Gloria discovers several articles penned under a male pseudonym, which her mother had authored before her marriage, sparking a deep curiosity about her mother’s past.

As she transitions into a young adult, Gloria embarks on a fellowship to India. Upon her return to America, she faces the challenges of breaking into journalism amidst prevalent sexism and harassment. Despite these hurdles, she finds success writing about fashion and dating. However, when she exposes the harsh working conditions faced by waitresses at the Playboy Club, her prominence begins to rise, yet she feels conflicted about the nature of her accomplishments and declines an opportunity to expand her article into a book, grappling with her discomfort regarding how her work is often perceived.

Tragedy strikes when Gloria learns of her father’s death following a car accident. Guilt consumes her as she recalls having delayed visiting him, fearing she would have to take on the role of caretaker once again, similar to her past experiences with her mother.

While attending the March on Washington to profile James Baldwin, Gloria engages in a transformative conversation with a black woman, leading to an awakening regarding the intersecting prejudices faced by black women and recognizing her own role as a white woman within that dynamic. Further motivation arises when she participates in an event focused on illegal abortions, prompting her to deeply reflect on her own abortion that occurred shortly before her fellowship. The poignant stories shared by other women propel Gloria toward activism, fostering friendships with influential figures such as Dorothy Pitman Hughes and Florynce Kennedy, who mentor her in public speaking and advocacy.

In the early 1970s, Gloria along with her peers launches their magazine, Ms., providing a platform to discuss matters close to their hearts. The initiative garners attention when Gloria, along with 52 prominent women, boldly admits to having undergone illegal abortions in the magazine’s first issue.

Gloria’s activism escalates as she supports the campaign of Bella Abzug. She plays a vital role at the National Women’s Political Caucus, where various movements converge to push for the Equal Rights Amendment, which ultimately faces failure.

Throughout her life, Gloria persists in advocating for women’s rights and engages in political discourse, despite facing relentless scrutiny over her pro-choice stance and personal life choices, including her marital status and decision to remain child-free until marrying at 66, only to become widowed shortly thereafter.

In 2016, she writes a reflective article discussing the repercussions of Hillary Clinton’s loss in the presidential election of that year. As the narrative culminates, it is revealed that the Greyhound bus is filled with protestors heading to the 2017 Women’s March, featuring the real-life Gloria Steinem onboard. The film concludes with impactful footage from the march, showcasing the energy of the event and including a powerful speech delivered by Gloria herself, along with scenes from global demonstrations advocating for women’s rights.