Dr. Phyllis Chesler: Feminist Icon

Dr. Phyllis Chesler is an Emerita Professor of Psychology and Women’s Studies, a best-selling author, a legendary feminist leader, and a retired psychotherapist. Some of her most influential books are Women and Madness, Letters to a Young Feminist, Woman’s Inhumanity to Woman, An American Bride in Kabul, Islamic Gender Apartheid: Exposing a Veiled War Against Women.

Since 9/11, Dr. Chesler has focused on the rights of women, dissidents, and gays in the Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim communities; the rise of antisemitism/anti-Zionism, the demonization of Israel, the nature of terrorism, forced veiling, forced marriage, polygamy, and tribal psychology. Based on her four academic studies about honor killing, she has submitted affidavits for Muslim and ex-Muslim women who are seeking asylum or citizenship based on their credible belief that their families will honor kill them. In 2021-2022, Dr. Chesler co-led a team which rescued 400 women from Afghanistan. That work continues.