Kate Millett

Katherine Murray Millett (September 14, 1934 – September 6, 2017) was a pivotal figure in the American feminist movement, renowned as a writer, educator, artist, and activist. She made history as the first American woman to earn a first-class degree from St. Hilda's College, Oxford, reflecting her academic excellence. Millett’s landmark work, *Sexual Politics* (1970), derived from her doctoral dissertation at Columbia University, is widely recognized for its profound impact on second-wave feminism. Journalist Liza Featherstone credited Millett with contributing to significant social changes, including legal abortion, enhanced gender equality in the workforce, and expanded sexual freedoms.

A fervent advocate for women's rights, mental health reform, and civil rights, Millett's writings often drew from her personal experiences and activism. She was a professor at various esteemed institutions, including Waseda University and Barnard College, during the 1960s and 1970s. Among her later publications are *The Politics of Cruelty* (1994), which critiques state-sponsored torture, and *Mother Millett* (2001), reflecting on her familial relationships.

Born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Millett faced a tumultuous childhood marked by her father's alcoholism and abandonment. She identified as a lesbian in 1970, later coming out as bisexual. Her legacy includes receiving the Lambda Pioneer Award for Literature and the Courage Award for the Arts from Yoko Ono, along with her induction into the National Women’s Hall of Fame. Millett’s enduring influence on feminism and the arts remains significant.