Gloria Steinem, the prominent feminist leader who passed away this week, played a significant role in the adoption of the honorific "Ms." to replace the traditional titles "Miss" and "Mrs." in American English usage. Her efforts, spanning more than a decade, met considerable resistance, including from influential figures within The New York Times, notably its then-executive editor, A.M. Rosenthal.

Correspondence between Steinem and Rosenthal from the early 1970s, now archived at the New York Public Library, reveals the tensions surrounding the debate over the honorific. In a letter dated November 23, 1973, Steinem argued that women should not be required to disclose their marital status when men were not subject to the same convention. She addressed Rosenthal, known as "Abe," directly, while activism around the issue also unfolded outside the newspaper’s headquarters on West 43rd Street.

Rosenthal responded a week later by acknowledging Steinem’s preference to be called "Ms." in personal correspondence but expressed reservations about changing the paper’s official style. He questioned why the usage could not be extended to all women, noting that many readers might object since "Ms." was still not widely accepted in common language. Rosenthal emphasized the careful deliberation The Times invested in any stylistic changes, underscoring the publication’s self-perceived role as a standard-bearer in language and usage.

Despite the resistance, the dialogue between Steinem and Rosenthal was marked by mutual respect. Steinem even shared an early edition of her magazine, “Ms.,” with Rosenthal in late 1971, inviting his critique. His feedback was detailed and mixed; he praised the magazine’s premise but criticized its design and cautioned that the magazine would need to diversify its content to maintain long-term relevance.

The Times maintained its policy against using "Ms." in reporting for nearly 13 years. Rosenthal, supported by then-publisher Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, held the position that "Ms." had not yet fully entered common language. Eventually, in June 1986, Rosenthal reversed the policy. He announced to The Times newsroom that the paper would begin allowing women to choose how they wished to be addressed, reflecting the increased acceptance of "Ms." in society. The rule change did not mandate the use of "Ms." for every instance; for example, Hillary Clinton continued to be referred to as "Mrs. Clinton" in the paper’s coverage.

Following the policy reversal, Steinem and other advocates visited The Times offices with flowers, expressing gratitude. This decision marked one of Rosenthal’s last major acts as executive editor, as he was asked to retire just two weeks later. The change symbolized a broader cultural shift in attitudes toward gender and language that had been decades in the making.