Dworkin, Andrea, 1946-2005

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Author, critic, and radical feminist Andrea Dworkin was born on September 26, 1946, in Camden, New Jersey. She was the daughter of Sylvia (Spiegel), a secretary, and Harry Dworkin, a guidance counselor. In 1965, while attending Bennington College, Dworkin was arrested in New York City for protesting against the Vietnam War, and spent four days in the Women’s House of Detention. She later made headlines, publicizing her brutal treatment at the hands of staff, which led to a grand jury investigation of the prison. In 1965, she traveled to Crete, then returned to the United States to complete her coursework at Bennington College, before moving to Amsterdam, where she completed work for her B.A., which she received in 1968. On March 11, 1969, Dworkin married Cornelius (Iwan) Dirk de Bruin, a Dutch political activist. De Bruin abused Dworkin throughout the marriage, which ended in divorce in 1972. Dworkin moved to New York City in 1972 and in 1974, she met John Stoltenberg, a writer and editor. Dworkin, who identified herself as a lesbian, and Stoltenberg, who identified himself as homosexual, became close friends and lived together for many years before marrying in 1998.

Dworkin was the author of several books including Woman Hating (1974), Our Blood: Prophecies and Discourses on Sexual Politics (1976), Pornography: Men Possessing Women (1981), Right-Wing Women (1983), Intercourse (1987), Letters from a War Zone: Writings, 1976-1989 (1989), Scapegoat: The Jews, Israel, and Women's Liberation (2000), and Heartbreak: The Political Memoir of a Feminist Militant (2002). She was also the author of short stories and novels including Ice and Fire (1987) and Mercy (1991). In addition, Dworkin lectured widely and contributed to numerous periodicals and anthologies.

In 1983, with lawyer Catharine MacKinnon, Dworkin drafted a controversial civil rights ordinance defining pornography as sex discrimination. An activist working on behalf of many causes including abortion rights, she advised women and groups on issues of rape, battery, pornography, and incest in the United States and abroad.

Andrea Dworkin died April 9, 2005, in Washington, D.C.

From the guide to the Papers, 1914-2007 (inclusive), 1973-2000 (bulk), (Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn MacKinnon, Catharine A. Papers of Catharine A. MacKinnon, 1985-2005 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Dworkin, Andrea. Videotape collection of Andrea Dworkin [videorecording]. Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Dworkin, Andrea. Papers, 1914-2007 (inclusive), 1973-2000 (bulk). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Chicago, Judy, 1939-. Papers, 1947-2004 (inclusive), 1957-2004 (bulk). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Karla Jay papers, 1961-1992, 1975-1987 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Associated Students of Stanford University, Speakers Bureau, audio-visual materials, 1981-1996 Cecil H. Green Library. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Student Peace Union (U.S.). Student Peace Union records, 1959-1967. Swarthmore College, Peace Collection, SCPC
creatorOf Dworkin, Andrea. Audiotape collection of Andrea Dworkin [sound recording]. Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers, 1947-2004 (inclusive), 1957-2004 (bulk) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Stanford University. Associated Students. Speakers Bureau. Associated Students of Stanford University, Speakers Bureau, audio-visual materials, 1981-1996. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Ginsberg (Allen) photograph collection Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Organizing Against Pornography (Minneapolis, Minn.). Organizational records, 1975-1990. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
creatorOf Jay, Karla. Karla Jay Papers 1961-1992 (bulk 1975-1987). New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Davies, Diana, 1938-. Papers 1960-1996 (ongoing). Smith College, Neilson Library
referencedIn Judson Memorial Church Archive, 1838-1995 Fales Library & Special Collections
referencedIn Organizational records., 1975-1990. Minnesota Historical Society
referencedIn Steinem, Gloria. Papers, 1940-2000 [ongoing]. Smith College, Neilson Library
referencedIn Phyllis Chesler Papers, 1968-1990 David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
referencedIn Deming, Barbara, 1917-1984. Papers: Series I-III, 1908-1985 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers, 1935-2000 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Records of the NOW Legal Defense & Education Fund, 1968-2008 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Frog in the Well (Firm). Frog in the Well records, 1978-1999. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Dworkin, Andrea. Videocassette tapes (uncataloged) 1991. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
creatorOf Papers, 1914-2007 (inclusive), 1973-2000 (bulk) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Diana Davies Papers MS 309., 1960s-1996 (ongoing) Sophia Smith Collection
creatorOf Anne Waldman Papers (1945-2012, bulk 1965-2000) University of Michigan
referencedIn Trina Porte papers., 1968-2011. Minnesota Historical Society
creatorOf Videotape collection of Andrea Dworkin, 1981-1998 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Vidal, Gore, 1925-. Papers, 1875-2004 (inclusive), 1936-2000 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Records of, Sojourner, (inclusive), (bulk), 1920-2004, 1975-2002 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers, 1908-1985 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Porte, Trina, 1961-. Trina Porte papers, 1968-2011. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
referencedIn Gore Vidal papers, 1850-2020 (inclusive), 1936-2008 (bulk) Houghton Library
referencedIn Student Peace Union (U.S.). Records, 1959-1967. Swarthmore College, Peace Collection, SCPC
referencedIn Brownmiller, Susan. Papers, 1935-2000 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Audiotape collection of Andrea Dworkin, 1975-1997 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Abrams, Marjorie. person
associatedWith Alpert, Jane. person
associatedWith Associated Students of Stanford University. Speakers Bureau corporateBody
associatedWith Becker, Rhea. person
associatedWith Brownmiller, Susan. person
associatedWith Butler, Twiss. person
associatedWith Chesler, Phyllis person
associatedWith Chicago, Judy, 1939- person
associatedWith Corea, Gena. person
associatedWith Craft, Nikki Murdick. person
correspondedWith Cross Your Heart Support Network. corporateBody
associatedWith Davies, Diana, 1938- person
associatedWith Davis, Hal. person
associatedWith Deming, Barbara, 1917-1984 person
associatedWith Dobkin, Alix, 1940-2021 person
associatedWith Dorfman, Elsa. person
associatedWith Dworkin, Harry. person
associatedWith Dworkin, Mark, 1950- person
associatedWith Dworkin, Sylvia. person
associatedWith Farley, Melissa. person
associatedWith Fritz, Leah, 1931- person
associatedWith Frog in the Well (Firm) corporateBody
associatedWith Gaisner, Rhea. person
associatedWith Ginsberg, Allen person
associatedWith Grussendorf, Chris. person
associatedWith Hite, Shere. person
associatedWith Hunter, Susan, 1948- person
associatedWith Itzin, Catherine, 1944-2010. person
associatedWith Jay, Karla, 1947- person
associatedWith Johanna, Betty. person
associatedWith Johnson, Eleanor. person
associatedWith Jong, Erica. person
associatedWith Judson Memorial Church (New York, N.Y.). corporateBody
correspondedWith Judy Norsigian person
associatedWith Kady, 1927- person
associatedWith Karen DeCrow person
correspondedWith Kate Millett person
associatedWith King, Florence. person
associatedWith Koskoff, Harriet. person
associatedWith Lapidus, Jacqueline. person
associatedWith Lederer, Laura. person
associatedWith Lewis, Kathy. person
associatedWith Lovelace, Linda. person
associatedWith MacKinnon, Catharine A. person
associatedWith MacKinnon, Catherine A. person
associatedWith Markson, Elaine. person
correspondedWith Mary Daly person
associatedWith McCombs, Annie. person
associatedWith Melrose, Julie. person
associatedWith Millett, Kate. person
associatedWith Moorcock, Linda. person
associatedWith Moorcock, Michael, 1939- person
associatedWith Morgan, Robin. person
associatedWith Newhouse, Robyn. person
associatedWith Norris, Kathleen, 1947- person
correspondedWith NOW Legal Defense & Education Fund person
associatedWith Organizing Against Pornography (Minneapolis, Minn.). person
associatedWith Organizing Against Pornography (Minneapolis, Minn.). corporateBody
associatedWith Owen, Sally. person
associatedWith Porte, Trina, 1961- person
correspondedWith Preying Mantis Women's Brigade corporateBody
correspondedWith Rich, Adrienne, 1929-2012 person
associatedWith Rush, Florence, 1918- person
associatedWith Russell, Diana E. H. person
associatedWith Smith, Mark Ethan, 1940- person
associatedWith Sojourner (Cambridge, Mass.) corporateBody
associatedWith Spiegel, Marcia Cohn. person
associatedWith Stanford University. Associated Students. Speaker's Bureau corporateBody
associatedWith Stanford University. Associated Students. Speakers Bureau. corporateBody
associatedWith Steinem, Gloria. person
associatedWith Stoltenberg, John. person
associatedWith Stratten, Dorothy, 1960-1980. person
associatedWith Student Peace Union (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Teer, Dorothy. person
associatedWith United States. Attorney General's Commission on Pornography. corporateBody
associatedWith Vachss, Alice A. person
associatedWith Vadas, Melinda. person
associatedWith Vidal, Gore, 1925- person
associatedWith Waldman, Anne, 1945-. person
associatedWith Warrior, Betsy. person
associatedWith Women Against Pornography. corporateBody
correspondedWith Women Armed for Self Protection corporateBody
associatedWith Yankowitz, Susan. person
associatedWith Young, Allen, 1941- person
Place Name Admin Code Country
New York (N.Y.)
Indiana--Indianapolis
United States
Minnesota--Minneapolis
Washington--Bellingham
Indiana--Indianapolis
United States
United States
Minnesota--Minneapolis
Indiana--Indianapolis
Washington--Bellingham
Subject
Publishers and publishing
Abused women
Authors, American
Authors, American
Authors and publishers
Brothers and sisters
Calendars
Debates and debating
Erotica
Erotic literature
Family violence
Fathers and daughters
Feminism
Feminists
Fetishism (Sexual behavior)
Freedom of the press
Incest
Jewish men
Jewish women
Lesbians
Male domination (Social structure)
Mothers and daughters
Political correctness
Pornography
Pornography
Pornography
Prostitution
Rape
Serial murders
Sex crimes
Sex discrimination against women
Sex role
Wife abuse
Women
Women
Women
Women political activists
Women's rights
Occupation
Activity

Person

Active 1875

Active 2004

Birth 1946-09-26

Death 2005-04-11

Americans

English

Information

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SNAC ID: 86613764