The Feminist Public Square

August’s book: The Women’s Revolution by Muriel Fox

A rare first-person account of the women’s movement

A comprehensive, indexed memoir about the Second Wave women’s movement by the co-founder of the National Organization for Women (NOW). Muriel Fox offers rare, firsthand stories of 29 women and one man, including Betty Freidan, but also many who have not previously been recognized for their contributions.

As NOW’s public relations director, Fox orchestrated nationwide outreach. She was NOW’s vice president, then chair of the board, then chaired the National Advisory Committee. As Betty Friedan’s main lieutenant and director of operations, Fox drafted numerous letters sent by NOW under Friedan’s signature to government officials demanding faster action to reduce sex discrimination, including a letter that helped persuade President Lyndon Johnson to add gender to Affirmative Action and open opportunities for millions of women.

Unlike books relying on secondary sources, Fox’s memoir is built mainly from her own Feminism Files containing hundreds of letters, clippings, notes, and photographs that she archived.


Books for 2026

Our book choices are directly paired with our 60th Anniversary campaign. Check out the page to learn how you can get involved.

Capsule 1: Cost of Being a Woman
-JANUARY: Mutual Aid by Dean Spade
-FEBRUARY: The Cost of Being a Girl by Yasemin Besen-Cassino (YF)
-MARCH: Financial Feminist by Tori Dunlap

Capsule 2: Protecting Care, Protecting Choice
-APRIL: An American Sickness by Elisabeth Rosenthal
-MAY: Liberating Abortion by Renee Bracy Sherman and Regina Mahone
-JUNE: Fighting Mad: Resisting the End of Roe v. Wade by Krystale Littlejohn (YF)

Capsule 3: Securing Rights, Shaping the Future
-JULY: Democracy in Retrograde by Sami Sage & Emily Amick
-AUGUST: The Women’s Revolution by Muriel Fox
-SEPTEMBER: When We’re In Charge by Amanda Litman (YF)

Capsule 4: Ending Gender Violence
-OCTOBER: Man Up by Cynthia Miller-Idris
-NOVEMBER: Bright Red Fruit by Safia Elhillo (YF)
-DECEMBER: Nobody’s Girl by Virginia Guiffre

Welcome to the Feminist Public Square — welcome to the movement.


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