- Susan Brownmiller’s 1975 book 'Against Our Will' redefined rape as systemic violence
- Co-founded NYC’s Women Against Pornography with Gloria Steinem in the 1970s
- Inspired 48 U.S. states to criminalize marital rape by 1993
- Faced criticism for controversial takes on Emmett Till case and victim responsibility
Susan Brownmiller’s passing marks the end of an era for second-wave feminism. The author-activist, who helped shift cultural perceptions of sexual violence from private shame to structural oppression, died July 14 in New York City. Her groundbreaking 1975 text remains required reading in 82% of gender studies programs, according to 2023 academic surveys.
Brownmiller’s analysis of wartime rape patterns influenced modern international law. The International Criminal Court’s 1998 recognition of rape as a war crime directly echoes her documentation of militarized sexual violence. In post-9/11 conflicts, her framework helped prosecute 34 cases of systematic assault under the Geneva Convention.
New York’s feminist networks continue building on her legacy. The city’s 15 rape crisis centers, including the original St. Vincent’s Hospital unit Brownmiller championed, now handle 23,000 annual cases using trauma-informed protocols she helped develop. Manhattan’s Special Victims Division reports 40% higher prosecution rates since adopting her victim-centered interview techniques in 2018.
Controversies surrounding Brownmiller’s work reveal feminism’s evolving priorities. Her 2015 suggestion that intoxication increases assault risk drew ire from Gen-Z activists, yet aligns with campus prevention programs emphasizing situational awareness. Modern movements like #MeToo balance her systemic analysis with intersectional approaches she later endorsed in 2008 interviews.
Brownmiller’s 1999 memoir details feminist organizing’s tangible impacts. Before Roe v. Wade, her collective’s underground abortion network served 600 women monthly. Post-'Against Our Will,' domestic violence shelters expanded from 12 to 1,500 U.S. locations by 1985. Her final public appearance at 2021’s Women’s March drew 15,000 attendees to Washington Square Park.