“Personal is Political” is an oft heard cry during the 1960s and 1970s. The real meaning behind this phrase has always been identifying the grim situation of women and that the consciousness-raising groups that they formed were not for any group therapy, but so that they could make a positive contribution towards society by solving the problems that a woman faced. Such endeavors would enable them to make the society realize that women have a position in the political system.
Many writers and thinkers have expressed themselves at length on this topic. One such writer is Robin Morgan, who edited the very famous and oft quoted book “Sisterhood is powerful”. The book contains essays and articles contributed by prominent writers. This book is credited with starting the second phase of the feminist movement in the United States. (Murray, S.B., 1988)
This book is credited with being closely associated with this term because it provided a historical perspective as well as the current view about the women’s liberation movement. The book went on to inspire many women to look at their lives from a different angle and examine whether they were leading lives of oppression or if they were truly liberated. That is why the credit of the second wave of feminist movement goes to this book because it motivated women to take an active role in the Women’s Liberation movement. This started with an evaluation of their lives and the type of relationships they maintained. (Morrison, A., R. P. White, and E. Van Velsor., 1987)
The book contained articles by Flo Kennedy, Frances Beale, Mary Daly, Lucinda Cisler and Kate Millett among others. The book also featured the “Redstockings Manifesto” and the “SCUM Manifesto”. This book very closely reflects the idea that personal is political and is closely associated with it, as well.
Works cited:
Morrison, A., R. P. White, and E. Van Velsor. 1987. Breaking the Glass Ceiling. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
Murray, S.B. 1988. ‘The Unhappy Marriage of Theory and Practice:Analysis of a Battered Women’s Shelter’. NWSA Journal 1, pp. 75-92.
Porter, L.W. and E.E. Lawler.III. 1968. Managerial Attitudes and Performance. Homewood, IL: Irwin.
