Millett, Kate (1934–)

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Millett, Kate (1934–)

American writer, feminist, political activist and sculptor. Born Katherine Murray Millett, Sept 14, 1934, in St. Paul, Minnesota; dau. of James Albert Millett (engineer) and Helen (Feely) Millett (teacher); University of Minnesota, BA (magna cum laude), 1956; St. Hilda's College, Oxford, MA (1st class honors), 1958; Columbia University, PhD (with distinction), 1970; m. Fumio Yoshimura (sculptor), 1965 (div.); no children.

Became actively involved in civil-rights movement (1960s) and was one of the early committee members of National Organization for Women (NOW, 1966); published Sexual Politics (1970), which was hailed as a manifesto on the inequity of gender distinctions in Western culture; made a documentary film about women, Three Lives (1971); published 1st autobiographical work, Flying (1974); was involved in feminist politics, particularly in demonstrations for Equal Rights Amendment (1970s); remained active in feminist and civil-rights issues and continued to work as a sculptor.

See also Women in World History.

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