In 1970, women involved with the radical underground newspaper RAT took over its publication and transformed it into Women’s LibeRATion. The takeover was a significant moment in feminist organizing and alternative publishing, reflecting the era’s political possibilities and tensions.
Join the Center for Women and Gender Studies at the University of Texas at Austin and Reveal Digital (JSTOR Stewardship) on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at 4 p.m. ET for a free online conversation celebrating the launch of RAT: Women’s LibeRATion, newly digitized and openly available on Reveal Digital.
Activists and authors Karla Jay and Alice Embree will share firsthand reflections on the takeover and their experiences with the movement and publication. The program includes a recorded contribution from the late Robin Morgan, whom The New York Times called the “voice of radical feminism.” Lauren Gutterman, Associate Professor of American Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, will facilitate a conversation about RAT/LibeRATion’s political and cultural context, alternative publishing and feminist organizing, and the people who shaped the publication.
Using the digitized publication as a reference, the conversation will revisit the takeover and explore its significance more than fifty years later. Emilie Hardman, Curatorial and Archival Director for JSTOR Stewardship, will introduce the collection, situate it within Independent Voices, and highlight selections for research, teaching, and learning.
The webinar will be recorded as a teaching and learning resource. The discussion connects participants’ experiences with the publication, offering historical context for newcomers and new perspectives for those already familiar with it.
