Robin Morgan, a child television star who became a prominent figure in second-wave feminism as a poet, editor, and organizer, died Saturday, September 5, 2026. She was 85. The Women’s Media Center (WMC), an organization Morgan co-founded, confirmed her death, noting she had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease 16 years ago and had experienced declining health in recent weeks.
Morgan gained early fame in the 1940s and 1950s as the star of the radio show "Little Robin Morgan" and the television series "Mama." She later transitioned into political activism during the 1960s, joining the civil rights and anti-Vietnam War movements before becoming a central figure in the women’s liberation movement. Her death occurred three days after the death of her long-time collaborator, Gloria Steinem, who died on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.
As an organizer, Morgan participated in the 1968 protest against the Miss America pageant and co-founded groups such as New York Radical Women and the Sisterhood Is Global Institute. She edited the 1970 anthology "Sisterhood is Powerful," which is cited as a foundational text of modern feminism, and served as editor-in-chief of Ms. Magazine. Morgan is also credited with coining the term "herstory" and popularizing the clenched fist symbol within the female icon.
For ordinary citizens, Morgan's legacy is found in the everyday language and symbols of gender equality she helped establish. Her activism helped catalyze the transition from the suffragist era to "second-wave" feminism, which expanded the focus of women's rights from voting to broader issues of bodily autonomy, workplace equality, and domestic life. This movement eventually led to significant changes in U.S. law and workplace policy that currently govern how millions of Americans navigate employment, healthcare, and family life.
The knock-on effects of her work continue through the Women’s Media Center, which Morgan, Gloria Steinem, and Jane Fonda established in 2005. The organization remains active in monitoring gender parity in newsrooms and media outlets. While no specific funeral services or public memorials were immediately detailed by the WMC or her son, Blake Morgan, the organization stated that her leadership helped define the "visibility and decision-making power of women and girls in media" for future generations.