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 | Damned ... and God's police; The misogyny factor; Unfettered and Alive: A Memoir |
Anne Summers AO (born 12 March 1945) is a well-known Australian writer and journalist. She is famous for being a leading feminist, editor, and publisher. Anne Summers also worked for the Australian government. She was a key leader in the Office of the Status of Women. This office helps improve things for women in Australia.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Anne Summers was born Ann Fairhurst Cooper in Deniliquin, New South Wales, in 1945. She was the oldest of six children. Anne grew up in Adelaide, South Australia. She went to a Catholic school there.
When she was 17, Anne left school and moved to Melbourne. She worked in a bank and then a bookshop. In 1964, she returned to Adelaide. The next year, she started studying at the University of Adelaide. She studied politics and history. This time helped shape her future work for women's rights.
Starting Her Career
While at university, Anne Summers joined the Labor Club. She also became involved in student movements. She marched against the Vietnam War. In 1967, she married John Summers. They moved to a remote Aboriginal reserve where he taught.
In 1969, Anne Summers helped start a Women's Liberation Movement (WLM) group in Adelaide. This group worked to improve women's rights. Other WLM groups were forming across Australia. They pushed for things like equal pay. In 1970, the first national WLM conference was held. Seventy feminists attended this important meeting.
Working for Change
In 1970, Anne Summers moved to Sydney. She studied at the University of Sydney. In 1975, she earned a special degree in Political Science. She was very active in the Sydney Women's Liberation Movement.
In 1974, Anne and other WLM members helped create the Elsie Women's Refuge. This refuge gave safe shelter to women and children. It helped those who were experiencing domestic violence. This was a very important step in helping women.
Later, Anne Summers became a journalist for The National Times. She wrote an important story about prisons in New South Wales. This story led to a big investigation. For her work, Anne won a special award called a Walkley Award.
Anne Summers also worked for the government. She was an adviser to Labor prime minister Bob Hawke. She led the Office of the Status of Women. This office worked to improve the lives of women. She held this role from 1983 to 1986.
From 1986 to 1992, Anne lived in New York. She became the editor-in-chief of Ms. magazine. This was a famous feminist magazine. After returning to Australia, she edited "Good Weekend" magazine. This magazine was part of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age newspapers. She also advised Prime Minister Paul Keating on women's issues.
Anne Summers joined the board of Greenpeace Australia in 1999. From 2000 to 2006, she was the chair of Greenpeace International. This shows her dedication to environmental causes. Since 2017, she has been living in New York again.
Awards and Recognition
Anne Summers has received many awards for her work:
- 1976: Walkley Award for Best Newspaper Feature Story.
- 1989: Officer of the Order of Australia (AO). This is a high honor for her work in journalism and for women.
- She has also received several honorary doctorates from universities. These include Flinders University, University of New South Wales, University of South Australia, University of Adelaide, and the University of Sydney.
Personal Life
Anne Summers is married to Chip Rolley. He is an American and Australian. Chip Rolley has worked in many creative roles. He was the creative director of the Sydney Writers' Festival in 2010. He also edited The Drum, a program from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Currently, he is in charge of Talks and Ideas at Sydney Opera House.
See Also
- Feminism in Australia
- Women's rights
Images for kids
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Summers delivering the Griffith Lecture, 2018
