All women, and men of color - we were owned like tables and chairs. We spent a hundred years getting a legal identity as human beings. That's a big thing.

In this powerful quote, Gloria Steinem reflects on the historical struggle of women and men of color in their quest for legal identity and human dignity. She draws a stark comparison, suggesting that historically, they were treated as property, "owned like tables and chairs," devoid of the autonomy and recognition that comes with legal personhood. Steinem emphasizes that achieving legal identity—the acknowledgment of their full humanity—was a monumental accomplishment after centuries of systemic oppression.

The origin of this quote stems from Steinem’s advocacy for women's rights and racial justice, often pointing out how these intersecting struggles for equality were deeply entangled in a society that denied basic human rights to marginalized groups. She highlights the immense challenge these groups faced in securing legal recognition, noting that it took over a century for such recognition to be achieved. By framing this struggle as "a big thing," Steinem underscores the monumental nature of this social transformation.

Steinem’s statement is also a commentary on how the fight for human rights for women and people of color is not merely a political or legal battle but a deeply personal and existential one. It speaks to the ongoing struggle for equality and the long road toward dismantling centuries of entrenched discrimination. This recognition of full humanity represents a victory against systems that once relegated entire populations to the status of property or subhumans.

Through her words, Steinem places the significance of legal identity at the forefront of the struggle for civil rights, reminding us that this achievement was not just about gaining rights but about affirming the humanity of those who had been systematically denied it. Her quote serves as both a reflection on the past and a call to continue striving for equality and justice in the present.