Gertrude Stein defied stereotypes, challenging societal norms related to gender, sexuality, art, and literature. She was a novelist, poet, playwright, and art collector. When same-sex relationships were considered taboo, Stein lived openly with her partner, Alice B. Toklas, for nearly 40 years. Their relationship was no secret, and Stein referred to Toklas as her "wife." She embraced a masculine presentation—wearing tailored suits and cropped hair—when women were expected to be feminine and domestic. She established herself as a thought leader in modern art and literature at a time when women were rarely recognized as leading intellectuals. Stein asserted herself as a cultural authority. She famously declared, "I am a genius," unapologetically claiming a level of intellectual status that women were rarely allowed to occupy publicly.