Personal experiences that informed the activism of Gloria Steinem include her upbringing in a family deeply affected by gender inequality. Growing up, she witnessed the challenges her mother faced as a single parent and was influenced by her experiences with discrimination in the workplace. Steinem's travels, including her time in India where she studied women's rights, further shaped her understanding of social justice. These experiences sparked her commitment to feminism, leading her to co-found Ms. Magazine and advocate for women's rights on both national and international levels.