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Gloria Steinem’s Playboy exposé ended club workers’ exams

9/6/2026

9 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Gloria Steinem’s 1963 “A Bunny’s Tale” exposé forced Playboy founder Hugh Hefner to end gynecological exams for Club workers.
She spent 11 days undercover as a Playboy Bunny at the Manhattan club in May 1963.
After publishing, Steinem faced a $1 million libel suit, a subpoena and threatening calls.
She said the Bunny story nearly halted her career.
She later co-founded Ms. Magazine and earned the 2013 Medal of Freedom.

History

Historical Context

Second-wave feminism erupted in the early 1960s, drawing on earlier feminist philosophy such as Simone de Beauvoir’s critique of gender roles. The movement’s focus on gender as socially performed was later theorized by Judith Butler in her 1990 book *Gender Trouble*. These ideas shaped later feminist media, including the 1972 launch of *Ms.* magazine.

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Story summary

Gloria Steinem’s 1963 “A Bunny’s Tale” exposé forced Playboy founder Hugh Hefner to end gynecological exams for Club workers.
She spent 11 days undercover as a Playboy Bunny at the Manhattan club in May 1963.
After publishing, Steinem faced a $1 million libel suit, a subpoena and threatening calls.
She said the Bunny story nearly halted her career.
She later co-founded Ms. Magazine and earned the 2013 Medal of Freedom.

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