Kate Austin (1864 - 1902)

Mon Jul 25, 1864

Kate Austin, born on this day in 1864, was an American journalist and anarchist feminist known for her essay "Woman", which disparaged scientific efforts to prove women's inferiority to men and urged society to abandon sexist customs.

Born in LaSalle County, Illinois, Austin lived in the American Midwest for most of her life. In 1883, her father discovered Lucifer, an anarchist/free love journal published by the feminist Moses Harman. This influence coupled with the Haymarket Riot of 1886 politically radicalized Austin, bringing her to call herself an anarchist and a feminist.

Austin joined the American Press Writers Association, and her work increased as she came in contact with many well known radical writers and lecturers of her time, keeping her busy reading and writing. She contributed to the magazine Lucifer, as well as The Firebrand, Free Society, Discontent, and The Demonstrator.

"As for intelligence, my sex has already experimented with that ingredient, and found it like mother Eve's forbidden fruit: Very Good."

- Kate Austin

• Date: 1864-07-25
• Learn More: en.wikipedia.org, www.katesharpleylibrary.net.
• Tags: #Birthdays, #Anarchism.
• Source: www.apeoplescalendar.org