Robin Morgan
Robin Morgan
Full Name and Common Aliases
Robin Morgan is a prominent American poet, author, editor, and activist. She is also known as the former president of the Women's Media Collective and the co-founder of Sisterhood Is, a feminist magazine.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on January 29, 1941, in London, England, Morgan passed away on July 28, 2022.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Morgan was a British-American poet, writer, editor, and activist. She worked as an author, editor, and feminist leader throughout her life.
Early Life and Background
Robin Morgan grew up in New York City's Upper East Side, where she developed a passion for poetry at a young age. Her mother, Julia Morgan, was a talented artist who encouraged Robin's creative pursuits. As a child, Morgan suffered from polio, which left her with a lifelong limp. Despite these physical challenges, she thrived intellectually and creatively.
Major Accomplishments
Morgan's literary career spans over five decades, during which she published numerous collections of poetry, essays, and short stories. Her notable works include:
The Girl Who Lives on Half Moon Street (1969), her first book of poems
Monster (1972), a collection of poetry that explores themes of feminism and politics
* Upstairs in the Garden: New Poems (1998)
Morgan was also an influential editor, working as the senior editor for the feminist magazine _Ms._ from 1971 to 1976. During her tenure, she interviewed numerous prominent women's rights activists, including Gloria Steinem and Betty Friedan.
Notable Works or Actions
In addition to her writing and editing endeavors, Morgan co-founded the Women's Media Collective in 1969 with other feminist activists. This organization aimed to promote women's voices and perspectives through various forms of media.
Morgan was also an outspoken advocate for social justice causes, including reproductive rights, anti-war activism, and LGBTQ+ rights.
Impact and Legacy
Throughout her life, Robin Morgan made significant contributions to the feminist movement and literature. Her work continues to inspire new generations of writers, activists, and thinkers.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Morgan's writing and activism have had a lasting impact on the world of feminism and beyond. She is widely quoted for her powerful poetry and insightful essays, which continue to resonate with readers today.
Quotes by Robin Morgan
The young women waking up to feminism now already wake up to more consciousness than my generation had. Even just simple things like equal pay - before you went, in my generation, and asked for a raise, you went through nausea and your palms sweating.
The Roman Catholic church... carries the immense power of very directly affecting women's lives everywhere by its stand against birth control and abortion.
Feminism is experiential; it's comparing notes. And when those stories get told, and you realize it's not just you - it's bigger - there's just a huge sigh of relief. Otherwise, you think you're crazy.
We Americans forget or rewrite even our recent history, and accomplishments of any group not pale and male have tended to get downplayed or erased - one reason why Gloria Steinem, Jane Fonda and I founded the Women's Media Center: to make women visible and powerful in media.
In the long run, Women’s Liberation will of course free men-but in the short run it’s going to COST men a lot of privilege, which no one gives up willingly or easily.
The present always masquerades as a beginning; maybe we couldn’t endure it if we realized at the time that it was a peak, or even an ending.