Robin Morgan

The anthology Sisterhood is Powerful, published in 1970, was identified by the New York Public Library as one of the 100 most influential books of the 20th century. This editorial feat remains a cornerstone of the career of Robin Morgan, a multi-faceted American contributor to poetry, political theory, journalism, and fiction whose influence spans several decades of social activism.

Early Career in Radio and Television

Born in 1941 in Lake Worth Beach, Morgan entered show business as a toddler. At five, she hosted her own radio program, Little Robin Morgan, on New York station WOR, and appeared on the network version of Juvenile Jury. Her prominence grew when she joined the cast of the CBS series Mama in 1949 as Dagmar Hansen. Throughout the 1950s, she participated in live television dramas and spectaculars, including Alice in Wonderland and Hallmark Hall of Fame, working alongside figures like Sidney Lumet and Rod Serling before ending her acting career at age 14.

THE FREE TEST

How high is yours?

Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.

Take the IQ test →

Transition to Activism and Feminism

After attending Columbia University, Morgan began working at the Curtis Brown Literary Agency. By the 1960s, she was deeply involved in the civil rights and anti-Vietnam War movements, contributing to journals such as Liberation and The National Guardian. She participated in the Youth International Party before shifting focus toward radical feminism. She co-founded New York Radical Women and W.I.T.C.H. In 1968, she helped organize protests at the Miss America pageant, creating the well-known feminist symbol of a raised fist within the Venus icon.

Publishing and Editorial Leadership

Morgan authored over 20 books, including her first collection of poems, Monster, published in 1972. Her career included a tenure at Ms. magazine, where she served as editor-in-chief from 1989 to 1994, overseeing the transition to an ad-free international publication. Her efforts to organize publishing staff included a 1970 office occupation at Grove Press. Later, in 2005, she co-founded the Women's Media Center with Jane Fonda and Gloria Steinem, eventually launching a syndicated radio show and podcast that reached audiences in over 100 countries.

Organizational Contributions

Throughout her life, Morgan initiated numerous networks and organizations designed to support women's autonomy. These included the Feminist Women's Health Network, the National Battered Women's Refuge Network, the National Network of Rape Crisis Centers, the Feminist Writers' Guild, and the Sisterhood Is Global Institute. She also contributed to the establishment of the National Museum of Women in the Arts and the Women's Foreign Policy Council, maintaining an ongoing commitment to global feminist infrastructure.