The Glorias (2020) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

After Gloria's parents separated, her mother fell into depression. At a young age, Gloria took on the responsibility of caring for her, managing the household and cleaning through her mother's belongings. This shift from childhood to adult responsibility profoundly impacted Gloria's sense of identity and future aspirations.

• caretaker
• depression
• parents separation
• childhood

While caring for her depressed mother, Gloria discovered articles her mother had written under a male pseudonym before getting married. This revelation about her mother's lost identity as a writer sparked Gloria's curiosity about women's suppressed ambitions and inspired her to pursue journalism herself.

• journalism
• mother
• pseudonym
• writing
• inspiration

Gloria's father was injured in a car accident, and she delayed visiting him because she feared being trapped in another caretaker role, just as she had experienced with her mother. By the time she arrived a week later, he had already died, leaving her with deep guilt over choosing her own freedom over family duty.

• father
• death
• guilt
• car accident
• caretaker

Gloria attended a speak-out on illegal abortions where women shared their personal stories. These accounts deeply resonated with her own experience of having had an abortion shortly before her fellowship to India. The emotional weight of hearing other women's stories, combined with her own, propelled her toward feminist activism.

• abortion
• activism
• speak out
• personal experience

Gloria and 52 other prominent women boldly disclosed their illegal abortions in Ms. Magazine's first issue to challenge the stigma and push reproductive rights into public conversation. The groundbreaking act sought to normalize what many women had experienced and to advocate for legal change.

• ms magazine
• abortion
• first issue
• reproductive rights

Gloria campaigned for Bella Abzug and worked within the National Women's Political Caucus to push for the Equal Rights Amendment. Despite their efforts, the amendment ultimately failed amid strong societal pushback from conservative groups who argued it would undermine traditional family values and gender distinctions.

• equal rights amendment
• failure
• bella abzug
• political caucus

Gloria approached marriage with caution throughout her life, remaining child-free and unmarried while focusing on her activism and career. She finally married at 66, though her joy was short-lived as she became widowed shortly after, adding a complex layer of love and loss to her journey.

• marriage
• widowhood
• age 66
• personal life

The film uses a nonlinear structure where different actresses portray Gloria at various life stages, all traveling together on a Greyhound bus. This device represents older Gloria reflecting on her past self while moving forward, symbolizing the continuous journey of feminist activism across generations.

• multiple glorias
• bus
• narrative structure
• nonlinear

While at the March on Washington to profile James Baldwin, Gloria engaged in a transformative conversation with a black woman that opened her eyes to the intersecting prejudices faced by black women. This moment made her recognize her own role as a white woman within that dynamic and reflect on her privilege.

• march on washington
• racial issues
• james baldwin
• intersectionality

In 2016, Gloria wrote an emotional article reflecting on the impact of Hillary Clinton's loss in the presidential election. This piece demonstrated her continued engagement with the political landscape and her belief that the outcome represented a significant setback for women's rights.

• hillary clinton
• 2016
• election
• article
• political engagement

The Greyhound bus that carries the various Glorias throughout the film is revealed to be filled with protestors heading to the 2017 Women's March. The real Gloria Steinem appears onboard, and the film concludes with actual footage from the march, connecting her historical journey to contemporary activism.

• 2017 womens march
• bus
• protest
• continuity

Gloria wrote an exposé revealing the harsh working conditions faced by waitresses at the Playboy Club, which brought her significant acclaim and raised her profile. However, she felt conflicted because her work was often reduced to trivial subjects, and she declined an opportunity to expand the article into a book due to discomfort with how her work was perceived.

• playboy club
• expose
• journalism
• career
• working conditions