ABSTRACT
Social psychology tended to focus on the individual’s perceptions and behaviors to the exclusion of history or social context. Many made changes that seemed to be in a pro-human direction: They not only became more self-directed, but also acted in a way that affirmed our human connections with one another, the value of every human life, and the need to counteract racism and other forms of oppression. In this chapter, the authors examine Nancy's attitudes before, during and after her encounter with the Women's Liberation Movement and the changes she underwent as a result. The way Nancy described herself in the pre-transition period fits the idea of an "interpersonal self". Nancy experienced herself as embedded in a conception of "motherhood" that was a continuation of her mother's values. Nancy clearly identified the experience that characterized the transition. The connection between personal and political factors in explaining why some women become feminists continues to puzzle psychologists and social theorists alike.
