Muriel Fox facts for kids

Muriel Fox, born on February 3, 1928, is an American woman who worked in public relations. She is also known as a feminist activist, working to make sure women have equal rights and opportunities.

Early Life and School

Muriel Fox's parents were Anne Rubenstein Fox and M. Morris Fox. Muriel once shared that her mother's unhappiness as a housewife inspired her to become a feminist. She wanted to help women have more choices in their lives.

Muriel graduated from Weequahic High School in 1945. She then went to Rollins College before transferring to Barnard College. She graduated from Barnard in 1948 with top honors, showing she was a very bright student.

Her Career Journey

After college, Muriel started her career as an advertising writer for Sears Roebuck in New York. Later, she worked as a publicist in Miami, Florida. There, she helped with political campaigns, including Senator Claude Pepper's re-election.

In 1950, Muriel applied for a job at Carl Byoir & Associates, a very big public relations company. At first, she was told they "don't hire women writers." But she was hired later that year in their Radio-TV Department. By 1952, she was in charge of that department. In 1956, she became the youngest vice president at the company. Even then, she was told she couldn't go any higher because male CEOs might not work well with women. However, in the 1970s, she proved them wrong and became an Executive Vice President!

In 1976, Business Week Magazine named her one of the "100 Top Corporate Women." She retired from the company in 1985. Muriel also served on the boards of other companies, like Rorer Pharmaceuticals and Harleysville Mutual Insurance Company.

Working for Women's Rights

Muriel Fox has been a very important leader in the women's rights movement.

Starting NOW

From 1965 to 1968, she worked with Senator Maurine Neuberger on a special group for women's goals, led by Vice President Hubert Humphrey.

In 1966, Muriel helped start the National Organization for Women (NOW). She worked closely with NOW's president, Betty Friedan, and helped run the organization in its early years. She also helped write NOW's first main goals. In 1967, she set up NOW's New York chapter. She also created and edited NOW's first national newsletter. Muriel was the head of public relations for NOW. She also served as NOW's vice president, chair of its board, and chair of its national advisory committee.

In 1975, Muriel helped NOW meet with the creators of Sesame Street. This meeting helped prevent a boycott and led to more female characters appearing on the popular TV show.

Legal Defense and Education Fund

In 1970, Muriel also helped start the NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund. This group works to protect women's rights through legal action and education. She served as its president and later as chair of its board.

For this fund, she organized a big meeting in 1979 called "The National Assembly on the Future of the Family." Over 2,000 leaders came together to talk about how American families were changing. She also created the fund's annual Equal Opportunity Awards Dinner, which honored people who supported equal rights.

Other Important Work

In 1974, Muriel co-founded the Women's Forum of New York. This group brings together successful women from different fields to share ideas and work together on important issues. She was the second president of this group from 1976 to 1978.

Starting in 1993, she led the board of Veteran Feminists of America. She organized conferences for them, celebrating feminist authors and artists.

Muriel also helped edit the book Feminists Who Changed America (2006). She traveled the world giving speeches about feminism and helping women succeed in their careers. She often told successful women to proudly say, "Yes, I am a feminist."

At 94 years old, Muriel wrote her own book, The Women's Revolution: How We Changed Your Life, which was published in 2024.

Awards and Recognition

Muriel Fox has received many awards for her important work:

• In 1977, she won a Matrix Award from New York Women in Communications.
• In 1979, she was the first woman to win a Business Leader of the Year Award.
• In 1983, she received an Achievement Award from the Alliance for Women in Media.
• In 1985, she received the Distinguished Alumna Award from Barnard College. She also received the first Eleanor Roosevelt Leadership Award from New York State NOW.
• In 1991, the NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund created the Muriel Fox Award for Communications Leadership. Muriel was the first person to receive this award, which is also called the "Foxy."
• In 2014, Gloria Steinem presented her with the Lifetime Achievement Award from Veteran Feminists of America. Many famous feminists like Eve Ensler, Rosie O'Donnell, and Marlo Thomas were there.
• In 2017, she was added to PRWeek's Hall of Fame.
• In 2018, she was inducted into the Rockland Women Leaders Hall of Fame.
• In 2024, she was named Lifetime Champion Honoree by Legal Momentum.
• In May 2024, she received a Clara Lemlich award for social activism.

Muriel Fox is also featured in the feminist history film She's Beautiful When She's Angry (2014). Her work and life are documented in various "Who's Who" books and at the Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America at Harvard University.

Personal Life

Muriel Fox married Dr. Shepard G. Aronson in 1955. They had two children, Eric and Lisa, who both grew up to become doctors.