The first problem for all of us, men and women, is not to learn, but to unlearn.

Gloria Steinem has fought tooth and nail for feminist causes throughout her life. Her activism and thought-provoking journalism solidified her as a leader within the women’s liberation movement in the 1960s and ’70s. In this quote, from her 1971 essay “A New Egalitarian Life Style,” Steinem acknowledges that there are deeply embedded societal preconceptions — often subconscious ones — that perpetuate the repression of certain groups. Our collective fear of straying from “popular wisdom” can limit forward progress for individuals and society at large. We can all benefit from looking inward and questioning whether our inherent ways of thinking are serving ourselves and others.