Susan Brownmiller, pioneering feminist and author of the seminal book Against Our Will, has died at age 90. Her work transformed the global conversation on rape, women’s rights, and feminist activism. Brownmiller remained a significant and often controversial voice in American feminism for more than five decades.
Susan Brownmiller Dies at 90: Author of “Against Our Will” and Feminist Icon
Susan Brownmiller, one of the most influential voices in second-wave feminism and author of Against Our Will: Men, Women and Rape, passed away on Saturday in New York City at the age of 90. Her death was confirmed by Emily Jane Goodman, a retired judge and executor of Brownmiller’s will. Brownmiller had been battling illness before her death.
Literary Legacy: Against Our Will and Its Lasting Impact
Published in 1975, Against Our Will was groundbreaking in its direct challenge to prevailing notions about rape. Brownmiller argued that rape is not driven by lust but by power and control, tracing its historical roots and cultural reinforcement. The book catalyzed national and international discussions on sexual violence and women’s rights and inspired legislative reforms, including laws addressing marital rape.
Brownmiller’s work was a staple in feminist literature, widely taught in universities and featured in major media platforms like the Today show and Time magazine.
Shaping Feminist Thought and Challenging the Status Quo
Brownmiller was part of the intellectual core of the feminist movement of the 1960s and 1970s, alongside figures such as Gloria Steinem and Betty Friedan. She helped shift public debate from suffrage-era concerns to issues of sexual violence, workplace harassment, reproductive rights, and domestic abuse. Her activism also extended into protests against pornography, founding the New York chapter of Women Against Pornography in the late 1970s.
Controversies and Criticism
Although highly respected, Brownmiller’s writings were not without controversy. Her chapter “A Question of Race” in Against Our Will drew sharp criticism for comments about the 1955 lynching of Emmett Till, with some critics calling her perspective racially insensitive. Prominent figures like Angela Davis and journalist David Remnick later challenged her framing of events.
Additionally, Brownmiller stirred debate in 2015 when she suggested in an interview that women could reduce their risk of assault by avoiding excessive drinking — a comment that was criticized for implying victim responsibility.
A Life Rooted in Activism and New York City
Born in New York City in 1935, Brownmiller was influenced by her politically aware parents and came of age during the civil rights era. She attended Cornell University on scholarship and participated in the 1964 Freedom Summer voter registration drive in Mississippi. Professionally, she worked for outlets such as the Village Voice, ABC News, and Newsweek.
Later in life, she taught at Pace University and authored several other books, including Femininity, Waverly Place, and Seeing Vietnam. Her final work, My City Highrise Garden, was a tribute to her longtime Greenwich Village apartment.
Remembered by Friends and Fellow Feminists
Brownmiller remained close with other activists throughout her life. Alix Kates Shulman, a fellow feminist and longtime friend, described her as a comrade in the women’s liberation movement. Brownmiller is remembered not only for her fierce intellect and fearless arguments but also for the deep sense of sisterhood she inspired among peers.
As she once reflected in her memoir:
“When such a coming-together takes place… the human landscape is changed forever.”
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