The Second Wave feminist movement was not solely an urban movement; its ideologies and creative endeavors united women from farming communes in Northern California to the marshes of rural Vietnam. Histories of social movements often ignore the organizing and consciousness-raising that occurs in places outside of the various megalopolises that dot the U.S. We often think of the country as devoid of political consciousness. It is true that radical, artistic Second Wave feminism was concentrated in urban areas, but we would be remiss to think that country women did not contribute their art, theory, and poetry to this movement. Country Women, a rural feminist periodical that emerged during this era, showcases rural women carving out a space for themselves within the countryside, executing traditionally male tasks, and staking their ground within the largely urban Second Wave feminist movement. Rural women appear eager to take part in the movement, creating poetry, art, and how-to articles for other women looking to enhance their physical capabilities for country life as well as their feminist awareness. This project takes a critical look at the creations of country women as they provide a glimpse into feminist theorizations seldom foregrounded within histories of the movement.
—Liv Chambers
“Hippiechick” and the Necessity of Rural Feminism
Periodicals as a Locale of Connection: Rural Women and the Construction of Communities
Living One’s Politics in “To a Distant Friend”
“This Distance Doesn’t Exist”: International Solidarity between Rural Women