Gloria Steinem, a writer, editor, lecturer, activist and one of the leaders of the modern feminist movement, will share her experiences and knowledge with the Iowa State community Tuesday night.

ISU students and members of the Ames community will have the opportunity to hear the founder of the National Organization for Women (NOW) and Ms. Magazine speak at 8 p.m. at Stephens Auditorium.

The lecture is free and open to the public.

Steinem was brought to Ames by the co-sponsors of Women’s Week, said Pamela Thomas, director of the Margaret Sloss Women’s Center.

Steinem will be speaking on the changing faces of feminism, Thomas said.

“Steinem will touch on the importance of the third wave of feminism. She will share rich information,” Thomas said.

Thomas said Steinem will introduce students to a new perspective on women’s issues.

“Women today have equality but don’t realize how differently women were regarded only 20 years ago,” Thomas said. “Gloria lived through that time period and can be credited for much of the changes that have been made since.”

Thomas said Steinem is an extraordinary guest speaker — as a “living, breathing historical figure.”

Alissa Stoehr, coordinator of Women’s Week and senior in liberal studies, is dining with Steinem before the lecture and will be introducing her at Stephens Auditorium. Stoehr predicted Steinem’s lecture will be well-attended.

“Attendance will not be a problem. Steinem’s last visit here in 1984 packed the auditorium,” she said. “Gloria is an icon; she will draw a crowd.”

After a nontraditional childhood, Steinem lived in India for almost two years as a Chester Bowles Asian Fellow, where she wrote for Indian publications and was influenced by Gandhian activism, according to a press release.

Currently, Steinem is a writer and consulting editor for Ms. magazine, the international feminist bi-monthly magazine that she co-founded in 1972.

Her writing also has appeared in New York Magazine, a weekly publication she helped found in 1968, and on which she served as political columnist until 1972.

She also has written for many other magazines, newspapers and anthologies, nationally and internationally.

Steinem’s books include “Moving Beyond Words,” “Revolution from Within: A Book of Self-Esteem” and “Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions.”

Steinem helped to found NOW, the Women’s Action Alliance, the National Women’s Political Caucus and the Coalition of Labor Union Women, according to a press release.

Steinem also is the president of Voters for Choice, an independent, bipartisan political action committee that supports candidates working for reproductive freedom.

She is the founding president of the Ms. Foundation for Women, a national multi-racial women’s fund that supports grassroots projects to empower women and girls.

Currently, Steinem is one of the 10 International Working Group members of “Beyond Racism,” an initiative of the Southern Education Foundation that includes a two-year study of comparative racial relations in the United States, Brazil and South Africa.

Steinem’s honors include numerous journalism and humanitarian awards. She was listed as one of the 25 Most Influential Women in America in the World Almanac for nine years.