Bloomsbury Women's Liberation in the UK: When the Personal Got Political

This innovative book offers a fresh approach to the history of the British Women’s Liberation Movement, by focusing on the impact of the movement on the lives of the activists themselves. Sue Bruley explores the meaning of the slogan ‘the personal is political’ by bringing together oral testimonies from over 150 interviews conducted across Britain, in addition to autobiographical narratives from feminist periodicals and WLM newletters. Through this rich source material, the author examines the formal and organisational aspects of the movement, and uncovers the different ways in which the movement impacted the personal lives of activists. Bruley pays due attention to the lives of black, working class, and disabled activists, and overcomes the prevalence of London in WLM historiography by using a plethora of sources from across the UK. Arguing that consciousness-raising was a crucial element of the movement, this book demonstrates how it broke down divisions between public and private life, and created opportunities for feminist bonding and a new language of empowerment. Bruley analyses its impact upon several key aspects of identity, including interpersonal relationships and sexuality, home and family, and the body. Ultimately, Women’s Liberation and Personal Life is an engaging and detailed account of the everyday impact of women’s liberation and second wave feminism in Britain.