Daring to Hope: My Life in the 1970s

Sheila Rowbotham reflects on her life as a participant in the women's liberation movement, left politics, and the creative radical culture of a decade in which freedom and equality seemed possible. She reveals the efforts made to transform attitudes and feelings and daily life, and played an influential role in discussions of socialist feminist ideas. Daring to Hope recreates grassroots networks, communal houses, and squats, bringing alive a shared impetus to organize collectively and love without jealousy or domination.

Format: Hardback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 09 November 2021
Publisher: Verso Books

In this captivating memoir, Sheila Rowbotham takes us on a journey through her life as a participant in the women's liberation movement, left politics, and the vibrant creative radical culture of a decade when freedom and equality seemed within reach. She unveils the remarkable efforts made to transform attitudes and emotions, as well as everyday life. After delivering a groundbreaking speech at the first British Women's Liberation Conference at Ruskin College, Oxford in 1970, she continued to inspire night cleaners to unionize, advocate for nurseries and abortion rights, and actively engage in discussions about socialist feminist ideas. Her books and journalism reached an international audience, captivating readers worldwide. Written with immense generosity and humor, Daring to Hope vividly recreates grassroots networks, communal houses, and squats, evoking a collective spirit to organize collectively and love without jealousy or domination. Through personal anecdotes, Rowbotham paints a vivid picture of the shifts occurring in politics and society, offering a profound exploration of liberation in its broadest sense.

Weight: 454g
Dimension: 218 x 149 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781839763892