Legendary Feminist Gloria Steinem To Headline 2016 Sydney Writers' Festival

Celebrated journalist, activist and feminist trailblazer Gloria Steinem has been announced as a headline guest for this May's Sydney Writers' Festival.

The Ms magazine founder and one-time columnist for New York Magazine will give a wide-ranging speech — highlighting her diverse, deeply moving life experiences as well as topics such as the current US presidential campaign and impending election — to eager ears at Sydney Town Hall on Friday 20 May from 6.15pm. The appearance takes its title from Steinem's memoir, My Life On The Road.

A nearly unparalleled life it's been, too; from Steinem's early social activism among women in India and nascent journalistic works highlighting sexism and inequality in society to her vocal activism on several issues (including the Vietnam War, women's liberation, the Gulf War, sexual choice, child abuse, the Korean Crisis and the removal/restoration of Wonder Woman's powers in the '70s), Steinem has been a persistent and prominent presence at the coalface of nearly every major social revolution of the past 60-odd years. And now she's coming back to Australia at last!

The visit marks Steinem's first appearance in Australia since the 1980s, and its announcement comes ahead of the full SWF program reveal, scheduled for 9am on Thursday 31 March. The final program will boast more than 400 international and Australian authors across 350 events throughout the event's duration.

The 2016 Sydney Writers' Festival runs from Monday 16 May to Sunday 22 May. Tickets for Gloria Steinem: Life On The Road are available now for $30-$55 via Rosyln Packer Theatre (phone bookings only, (02) 9250 1999) or the Sydney Writers' Festival website.

Steinem will also be appearing in Brisbane (Sunday 15 May, Powerhouse Theatre) and Melbourne (Monday 16 May, Readings, Melbourne Town Hall) during her Australian visit. See the Powerhouse and Readings websites for more information.