Life and Work
Jane O'Reilly is a writer and feminist who contributed important ideas to the Women's Liberation Movement. She graduated in 1958 from Radcliffe, where she recalls being surrounded by bright, highly accomplished women who were nonetheless encouraged to find a husband or be engaged by senior year.
After a divorce, Jane O'Reilly moved to New York, where she wrote for New York magazine and Vogue, among other publications. She was one of the first contributors to Ms. magazine. She later moved to Vermont where she took up gardening and worked in local government.
The Housewife's "Click!"
One of Jane O'Reilly's earliest and most famous feminist pieces is "The Housewife's Moment of Truth," which appeared in the premiere issue of Ms. "The Housewife's Moment of Truth" explored the moment of awakening to feminist consciousness, in which - click! - a woman suddenly realizes the truth about her need for liberation. For years, Ms. readers wrote to the magazine to describe their own "click!" moments.
No Writings Left Behind
Jane O'Reilly's book The Girl I Left Behind: The Housewife's Moment of Truth and Other Feminist Ravings was published in 1980. The collection of writings looked back at her experiences in the feminist movement over the previous decade and explored the social, economic and political boundaries women still faced.
Getting It
In 1992, Jane O'Reilly and several other women created the "Getting It Gazette," which was distributed at the Republican and Democratic National Conventions. The publication provided information about female candidates and women's issues. The authors insisted that politicians should not consider women a special interest group or afterthought.
Jane O'Reilly also wrote No Turning Back: Two Nuns Battle With the Vatican Over Women's Right to Choose with Barbara Ferraro and Patricia Hussey. Their story explores a personal struggle with the Roman Catholic Church, women's role in religion and the place of the church in modern life.