Bread and Roses: Women's Liberation Organization, 1969-1971

Bread and Roses was a Boston area organization that was part of the early “Second Wave” of feminism. It defined itself as a “Revolutionary Autonomous Women’s Liberation Organization,” but came to be known as part of the socialist-feminist stream of the women's movement. It was launched Sept ’69; and went missing in action some time in ‘71. But it made a big difference in the short period of its existence, partly because it grew explosively reaching thousands of women in the Boston area. Several hundred women were members at one time or another; it had an activist core of well over 100. It initiated many projects, some of which still continue, all of which left a permanent imprint. It inspired and shaped the consciousness of thousands of women activists of the baby boom generation and, indirectly, of generations to follow. The energy and creativity unleashed by that too short moment inspired many of us, informed our outlooks and kept us going through the decades. It was a generative experience for women who went on to organize significant women’s organizations such as 9 to 5, the first organization for women office workers, and The Boston Women’s Health Collective who produced the classic Our Bodies Our Selves. We hope to use this page as a way of connecting many who were touched by Bread and Roses, with a view to organizing a reunion at which we could document its history.