The line was originally coined by Australian Irina Dunn.

The line "women need men like fish need a bicycle" became synonymous with Steinem throughout her life, and it has appeared in countless speeches, articles and tributes.

When the slogan was mistakenly linked to her, Steinem usually corrected those who misattributed the quote, emphasizing Dunn’s authorship.

The persistence of this misattribution shows how a memorable slogan can eclipse its creator, highlighting why careful correction matters for preserving the true history of feminist discourse.