Diana E. H. Russell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Diana Russell
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| Born | Diana Elizabeth Hamilton Russell 6 November 1938 Cape Town, South Africa |
| Died | 28 July 2020 (aged 81) Berkeley, California, US |
| Occupation | Professor emerita, feminist, author, and activist |
| Alma mater | University of Cape Town, London School of Economics, Harvard University |
| Period | 1967–2020 |
| Literary movement | Women's rights, human rights, Anti-Apartheid Movement |
Diana E. H. Russell (born November 6, 1938 – died July 28, 2020) was a writer and activist from South Africa. She was known for her work as a feminist. This means she believed in equal rights for women.
For over 45 years, Diana Russell studied violence against women and girls. She wrote many books and articles about this important topic.
Her book The Secret Trauma won the 1986 C. Wright Mills Award. She also received the 2001 Humanist Heroine Award. This award recognized her efforts to improve human lives.
In March 1976, she helped organize the First International Tribunal on Crimes against Women. This was a big meeting in Brussels to talk about unfair acts against women.
Her Early Life
Diana Russell was born and grew up in Cape Town, South Africa. She was one of six children and had a twin sister. She went to Herschel Girls' School.
After high school, she studied psychology at the University of Cape Town. When she was 19, she moved to Britain. There, she studied at the London School of Economics. She did very well and won an award for being the best student.
In 1963, she moved to the United States. She joined a special PhD program at Harvard University. Her studies focused on how societies change and how revolutions happen.
Fighting Apartheid
Diana Russell's activism started in South Africa. She joined the anti-apartheid movement. Apartheid was a cruel system that separated people by race. It treated non-white people unfairly.
In 1963, she joined the Liberal Party of South Africa. This party was against apartheid. She was arrested during a peaceful protest in Cape Town. She realized that peaceful protests were not enough. The police state was too harsh.
After this, she joined the African Resistance Movement (ARM). This was a secret group fighting apartheid. The ARM used bombings and sabotage against government property. Diana Russell was only a small part of this group. But she still risked going to jail for 10 years if caught.
She wrote a book called Rebellion, Revolution, and Armed Force (1974). It looked at how social and political changes happen.
Her Work for Women's Rights
Diana Russell spent much of her life working for women's rights. She researched and wrote about violence against women. Her work helped many people understand these issues better.
In 1977, she became part of the Women's Institute for Freedom of the Press (WIFP). This group helps women communicate more. It also connects the public with media created by women.
See also
In Spanish: Diana Russell para niños
