Additional Coverage:
- Gloria Steinem’s Brutal Assessment of Her Playboy Bunny Days: ‘Like Being Hung on a Meat Hook’ (parade.com)
Gloria Steinem, a towering figure in feminism and journalism, often reflected on one of the defining yet difficult chapters of her early career-her time undercover as a Playboy Bunny.
In 1963, Steinem took on this challenging role at a Playboy Club, an experience she later documented in her groundbreaking report, A Bunny’s Tale. She described the job in stark terms, saying, “Being a Playboy Bunny was like being hung on a meat hook.” The physical demands were intense: towering 3-inch heels, a constricting costume that made breathing difficult, and long hours on her feet.
Steinem also offered a candid critique of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, whom she called “pathetic” and likened to “an 8-year-old boy pretending to be a grown-up man.” Though she did not meet Hefner during her time as a Bunny, she encountered him during an interview later on, an experience that left a lasting impression.
Using the alias Marie, Steinem misrepresented her age to secure the position, exposing the low pay and harsh conditions endured by Bunnies. This exposé helped launch her career, leading to assignments with The New York Times and New York Magazine. However, despite her growing reputation, she initially struggled to break free from being assigned trivial topics like fashion and beauty trends.
The shadow of her Playboy past lingered for years. In a 2016 interview, Steinem noted that detractors would sometimes use her former Bunny status as a way to discredit her. Yet, she took pride in having improved working conditions for women in those roles.
Beyond this early chapter, Steinem’s impact on women’s rights was profound. She co-founded Ms. magazine, championed the Equal Rights Amendment, fought for reproductive rights, and tirelessly advocated for gender equality. Her influential work earned her prestigious accolades, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and inspired countless women to challenge societal barriers.
Gloria Steinem’s legacy is one of courage, resilience, and unwavering commitment to justice-shaped in part by an unglamorous beginning that revealed the realities many women faced.