Anne Summers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anne Summers
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Summers delivering the Griffith Lecture, 2018
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| Born | Ann Fairhurst Cooper 12 March 1945 Deniliquin, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation | Journalist, writer and feminist |
| Genre | Nonfiction; memoir |
| Subject | Feminism; gender equity; women in history; misogyny |
| Notable works | ... and God's police; The misogyny factor; Unfettered and Alive: A Memoir |
Anne Summers (born 12 March 1945) is a famous Australian writer, journalist, and editor. She is a leading feminist, which means she works to make sure women have the same rights and opportunities as men.
Summers has worked to improve the lives of women in Australia. She was once the First Assistant Secretary of the Office of the Status of Women, a part of the Australian government that focuses on women's issues. Her important work has been recognized in The Australian Media Hall of Fame.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Anne Summers was born Ann Fairhurst Cooper in Deniliquin, New South Wales. She was the oldest of six children and grew up in Adelaide, South Australia. She was raised in a strict Catholic family and went to a Catholic school. In her autobiography, she wrote that she had a difficult relationship with her parents.
At age 17, Summers left home and moved to Melbourne to work at a bank. In 1965, she enrolled at the University of Adelaide to study politics and history. During this time, she had a difficult personal health experience. This event inspired her to dedicate her life to helping other women.
Career Highlights
While at university, Summers joined student groups and protested against the Vietnam War. In 1967, she married a fellow student, John Summers. Even though their marriage was short, she kept the last name Summers for her professional life.
Fighting for Women's Rights
In 1969, Summers and four other women started a Women's Liberation Movement (WLM) group in Adelaide. The WLM was a new movement across Australia that fought for women's rights, such as equal pay for equal work. The first national WLM conference was held in 1970 with 70 feminists attending.
In 1970, Summers moved to Sydney to continue her studies at the University of Sydney. She became very active in the Sydney WLM. In 1974, she and other members took over two empty houses and turned them into the Elsie Women's Refuge. This was a safe place for women and children who needed to escape violence at home.
Writing and Journalism
Summers used a scholarship to write her first book, ... and God's Police, which explored the history of women in Australia. The book became very influential.
She then became a journalist for The National Times. Her articles about problems in New South Wales prisons were so powerful that they led to a government investigation. For this work, she won a Walkley Award, one of Australia's highest honors in journalism.
Working in Government and Publishing
From 1983 to 1986, Summers worked as a top advisor to the Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke. She was in charge of the Office of the Status of Women, where she helped create policies to support women.
Later, she moved to New York and became the editor-in-chief of Ms., a famous American feminist magazine. She later returned to Australia and became the editor of the "Good Weekend" magazine, which is part of major newspapers like The Sydney Morning Herald. She also advised Prime Minister Paul Keating on women's issues.
From 2000 to 2006, Summers was the head of Greenpeace International, showing her commitment to environmental issues as well.
Awards and Recognition
Anne Summers has received many awards for her work.
- 1976: Walkley Award for her journalism.
- 1989: Made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for her service to journalism and women's rights.
- 1994: Honorary doctorate from Flinders University.
- 2000: Honorary doctorate from the University of New South Wales.
- 2001: Added to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women.
- 2014: Honorary doctorate from the University of South Australia.
- 2015: Honorary doctorate from the University of Adelaide.
- 2017: Honorary doctorate from the University of Sydney.
Personal Life
Summers is married to Chip Rolley, who has held important roles in arts and literature, including at the Sydney Writers' Festival and the Sydney Opera House.
Selected Works
- ... and God's Police (1975)
- Gamble for Power (1983)
- The End of Equality (2003)
- On Luck (2013)
- The Misogyny Factor (2013)
- Unfettered and Alive: A Memoir (2018)
