CWLU Herstory Blog

Feminist scholar Jo Freeman has long been one of our most astute observers of the often surreal world of U.S. politics. In her new book We Will Be Heard: Women's Struggles for Political Power in the United States, she collects some of her best essays about women in politics into one volume.

Gertrude (Trudy) Alma Pax, 70, died February 9, 2008, of pancreatic cancer, at her home at Camphill Village Minnesota. Trudy was born March 9, 1937 in Celina, Ohio to Gertrude (Jenniges) and Leo Pax and was the youngest of eight children. Raised on a farm, Trudy attended college at Marquette University, Milwaukee, and graduated with a degree in sociology. After working with a service organization in Brazil for four years, Trudy moved to Chicago and continued her involvement in social justice and political activism. Trudy worked in the steel mills in Chicago from 1975-1980. She married Tom Farr in 1974. Nic was born in 1981 and Daniel joined the family in 1983 when he was 3 years old. Trudy received a master’s degree in ESL and taught adult education classes.

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Historian This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it is writing a biography. No, not of Betty Friedan the author, but of The Feminine Mystique, a book: its history and influence.

Stephanie Coontz needs your help.If you are willing to talk about this, or can direct her to someone else who might, you can send her your memories

WBEZ radio here in Chicago conducted a phone interview with former "Jane" Judith Arcana on the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision. Jane was the nickname for the Abortion Counseling Service of Women's Liberation. Jane performed an estimated 11,000 illegal abortions in Chicago before Roe v. Wade legalized the procedure.

You may listen to the interview below. Judith's portion is preceded by a news story about an anti-abortion march down Chicago's Michigan Ave.

You should also check out Judith's pro-choice blogging feature at Words of Choice.

In September of 2004 I lost a dear friend when Ruth Surgal died suddenly after attending a feminist conference. Ruth had been a leader of the Abortion Counseling Service of Women's Liberation, better known as Jane. You can read more about Jane on this website.

I was asked to speak at Ruth's funeral