A Photograph Started My Second-wave Feminism Exploration
Discovering Kate Millett and her contributions during Women’s History Month
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In the National Portrait Gallery exists an extensive collection of important faces staring as you browse the Old Patent Office Building. Guided tours, as helpful as they are, can’t stop me from wandering off on my own. Of all the faces I could’ve chosen to stare back at, I happened upon Kate Millett’s.
What drew me to this small photograph taken by Frederick William McDarrah, I do not know. I rushed to read through the description to keep up with my tour and caught the subject’s name. As I walked, I typed it into a search engine and discovered who Millett was.
In a 1970 New York Times profile, journalist Frank J. Prial proclaimed Millett as “something of a high priestess of the current feminist wave.” — Bridgit Katz
As an avid reader and writer, Millett’s books are what first caught my eye. I scrolled and found one in particular I was drawn to entitled “The Loony Bin Trip.” Who wouldn’t be intrigued by a title like that?
The rest of my guided tour, I searched for a used copy and found on eBay three Millett books being sold as a lot, one of which was “The Loony Bin Trip.” Wanting to fully immerse myself into learning more about this woman and her writing, I ordered them and waited.
With the books now in my possession, I embark on a journey this Women’s History Month to educate myself on feminism. Despite my preexisting interest, I have never fully divulged into learning about notable feminists or their work. Not outside a classroom setting.
When Angela Davis spoke at my university, it was my first real exposure to how raw and real the history of feminism truly is. Reading “The Loony Bin Trip,” I discovered Millett and Davis actually knew each other, furthering just how much I have to learn.
From this journey, I hope to gather a newfound understanding of what it means to be a feminist, its roots, and how it has changed in more recent years, if at all. I also hope to share this knowledge with those around me who wish to learn more. (A good friend of mine is buddy-reading “The Loony Bin Trip” with me.)
If not for my trip to the National Portrait Gallery, I may not have ever stumbled upon Millett or her books. I may not have considered taking on the task of diving into an expanse of feminist readings so vast I wonder if I’ll ever read them all. I may not have chosen to expand upon my knowledge independently, a feeling more fulfilling than learning for a class or grade.
To learn more about Millett, check out this article from the National Women’s Hall of Fame, or this article by Joy Press appreciating Millett after her death in 2017. For an autobiographical perspective, consider one of the many books she wrote about her life, mental health, mother-daughter relationships, and of course, feminism.
