Gloria Steinem’s Tribute to her Abortion Doctor

Recently, an article by USA Today highlighted late activist Gloria Steinem’s heartfelt acknowledgment of the doctor who facilitated her abortion in 1957, a time when such procedures were illegal. This piece, written by Clare Mulroy, appeared following Steinem’s passing at age 92.

The title of the article, “Gloria Steinem’s touching tribute to doctor who made her abortion possible,” refers to what Mulroy describes as some of Steinem’s more profound writing. In her memoir, published in 2015, Steinem expressed gratitude to Dr. John Sharpe, a physician based in London who helped her seek an abortion during a pivotal moment in her life. She recognized his contribution as enabling her to “do what you want to do with your life,” which resonates deeply within the context of her long history of activism.

Steinem, known for her framing of “reproductive freedom,” shared that she underwent the procedure as she was preparing to travel to India for a fellowship focused on nonviolent activism. In her dedication, she detailed the considerable risk Dr. Sharpe took in referring her for the abortion, given that this was a decade before the legal landscape around abortion changed in England.

“Knowing only that she had broken an engagement at home to seek an unknown fate, he said, ‘You must promise me two things. First, you will not tell anyone my name. Second, you will do what you want to do with your life,’” Steinem recalled. She conveyed admiration for Sharpe, suggesting that he would approve of her speaking about him, stating, “I’ve done the best I could with my life. This book is for you.”

In a 2022 CNN appearance, Steinem shared her dedication aloud and commented, “I think there are women and men across this country saying thank you to physicians who recognize individual rights.”

USA Today has yet to respond to requests for comments regarding this piece.