Judith Meuli was an American feminist, activist and scientist.
Early life and education
Judith Meuli was born in 1938 to parents Isabel Meuli and Earle Meuli in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Her siblings are Yvonne Herbert, Allan R. Meuli, Dr. Earle Maile, and Gerald R. Meuli.. In 1963, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Minnesota. For the next 10 years, Meuli was a research scientist at her alma mater, and then the University of California, Los Angeles, where she studied renal physiology. Although she taught surgical techniques and research methods at the university, Meuli was discouraged from entering medical school by her peers due to her gender as well as her age.
Meuli joined the National Organization for Women in 1967. She helped found the Los Angeles chapter of NOW, and served as secretary from 1968-1970. She was the co-editor of NOW Acts from 1970-1973, co-editor of the National NOW Times from 1977-1985, and editor of Financing the Revolution in 1973. Meuli was a member of NOW's national Board of Directors from 1971-1977, serving as the Chair of the National Membership Committee from 1971-1974, on the National Nominating Committee in 1974, And coordinator of the Hollywood chapter of NOW in 1976. She was president of Los Angeles NOW from 1998-2000. Meuli also co-edited the National NOW publication "Do it NOW" with her partner Toni Carabillo, as well as creating a line of feminist jewelry to raise money for NOW and the Equal Rights Amendment campaign.
Books
The Feminization of Power was published in 1988, co-written with her partner Toni Carabillo. The book originated with a traveling exhibit that Meuli and Carabillo created for a campaign tour intended to motivate women to run for office that year. The Feminist Chronicles, 1953-1993 was written with Toni Carabillo and June Csida.
In 1970, Meuli created a graphic arts firm with her partner Toni Carabillo. She designed many graphic images for T-shirts, buttons, etc., most famously one that combines the symbol for women with the "equals" sign across the circle called the Brassy, one of which was given to Pope Paul VI by Betty Friedan in 1973. She also made designs to promote the Older Women's League, the Equal Rights Amendment, and many other issues and events.
In 1987, Feminist Majority was founded by Judith Meuli, Eleanor Smeal, Toni Carabillo, Peg Yorkin, and Katherine Spillar to "encourage women to become involved in public affairs and electoral process". She was secretary and board member. In 1990, she designed and constructed a building to host their media center and archives. The Feminist Majority Foundation publishes Ms. Magazine and ran a national clinic access project, where they trained members on how to defend from antiabortion extremists. They also led campaigns to pass the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, as well as the Violence Against Women Act.
Other Involvement in Women's Rights Organizations
She also designed the Veteran Feminists of America pin and medal of honor, and was a member of their national board. She was awarded their Trailblazer Award in 2006. in 1977, Meuli became an associate of the Women's Institute for Freedom of the Press. WIFP is an American nonprofit publishing organization which works to increase communication between women and connect the public with forms of women-based media. She is featured in Who's Who in America, Who's Who in American Women, and Feminists Who Changed America.
Death and legacy
Judith Meuli died December 14, 2007, at age 69 of multiple myeloma at her San Fernando Valley home in California. Meuli donated her archive collections to the Schlesinger Library at Harvard's Radcliffe Institute in Massachusetts. Her archives can also be found in Harvard and UCLA's digital collections.
