The Chicago Women's Liberation Union (CWLU) grew out of the women's movement, the civil rights movement, the anti-war movement and the other social movements of the time.

Women's Liberation groups had sprung up across Chicago in the late 1960's and soon felt the need to pool their resources and coordinate their efforts. The CWLU was born in 1969 at an organizing conference held in the Chicago suburbs.

The CWLU had a steering committee and an office, but individual projects and chapters had considerable autonomy within its structure. Given the diverse nature of the women's movement, this was both necessary and desirable.

From 1969-1977, CWLU members dedicated themselves to developing grassroots programs for women while working toward a long term revolution in American society.