Anne Pride (July 29, 1942 – April 24, 1990) was a
National Organization for Women
The National Organization for Women (NOW) is an American feminist organization. Founded in 1966, it is legally a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization. The organization consists of 550 chapters in all 50 U.S. states and in Washington, D.C. It ...
(NOW) activist and publisher. Pride, an activist against
rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual penetration carried out against a person without their consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority, or ...
, began using the term "
Take Back the Night" in 1977. Pride helped found one of the first
rape crisis centers in the United States
Rape crisis centers in the United States, usually capitalized as Rape Crisis Center and often abbreviated as RCC, are community-based organizations affiliated with the anti-rape movement in the U.S. Rape crisis centers in other countries offer si ...
and was involved in protecting the privacy of her clients.
Career
Pride started getting involved in
feminist activism
The feminist movement (also known as the women's movement, or feminism) refers to a series of social movements and political campaigns for radical and liberal reforms on women's issues created by the inequality between men and women. Such is ...
in 1968.
She joined the National Organization of Women (NOW) in 1969.
She served as editor of ''Do It NOW'', NOW's national newsletter from 1970 to 1976.
From 1975 to 1977, she was on the board of directors for NOW.
As a NOW activist, in 1977 she used the term "Take Back the Night" in a memorial she read at an anti-violence rally in
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...
.
Pride was a founder of KNOW, Inc., which worked to publish
feminist viewpoints. In 1977, Pride became an associate of the
Women's Institute for Freedom of the Press
Women’s Institute for Freedom of the Press (WIFP) is an American nonprofit publishing organization that was founded in Washington, D.C. in 1972. The organization works to increase media democracy and strengthen independent media. Mo
Basic info ...
(WIFP).
Pride helped create one of the world's first
rape crisis center
Rape crisis centers (RCCs) are community-based organizations affiliated with the anti-rape movement that work to help victims of rape, sexual abuse, and sexual violence. Central to a community's rape response, RCCs provide a number of services, s ...
s, the Pittsburgh Action Against Rape (PAAR) in 1974.
She later became part of PAAR staff, starting in 1976.
In the 1980s, she was the director of PAAR.
In 1980, Pride refused to give client interview notes to the defense attorney during a
rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual penetration carried out against a person without their consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority, or ...
trial, citing confidentiality concerns.
She was found in
contempt of court and the
appeal was upheld by the
Pennsylvania Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is the highest court in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System. It also claims to be the oldest appellate court in the United States, a claim that is disputed by the Massachusetts Supreme ...
.
The court case led to the creation of legislation in
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania (; (Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, Ma ...
which would ensure confidentiality for rape victims and counselors at crisis centers.
Personal life
Pride was born as Anne Hugget on July 29, 1942.
She married Edwin Kurlfink at the age of 16, but even before her separation and divorce, wanted to change her name back to Huggett, her family name.
However, Pride's father didn't want his name to be associated with the women's movement.
Upon her separation from Edwin in 1977, she changed her name to Pride.
She and her husband had two children.
[ and ]
Pride was diagnosed with
ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer is a cancerous tumor of an ovary. It may originate from the ovary itself or more commonly from communicating nearby structures such as fallopian tubes or the inner lining of the abdomen. The ovary is made up of three different ...
in 1989.
She died on April 24, 1990, at
West Penn Hospital
The Western Pennsylvania Hospital, commonly referred to as "West Penn Hospital", is located at 4800 Friendship Avenue in the Bloomfield neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The 317-bed hospital is part of the Allegheny Health Network. It ser ...
after fighting cancer.
Footnotes
References
1942 births
1990 deaths
American feminists
Activists from Pittsburgh
External links
Anne Pride, Papers of NOW Officers.http://www.radcliffe.edu/schles Schlesinger Library] {{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509153246/http://www.radcliffe.edu/schles/ , date=May 9, 2012 , Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University.