Mary Kay Blakely

Here is an in-depth profile of Mary Kay Blakely, based on available sources:

Mary Kay Blakely – Life, Career, and Writings

Mary Kay Blakely (1948–2023) was an American journalist, memoirist, feminist essayist, and professor. Explore her life, works, themes, and impact on women’s writing and public discourse.

Introduction

Mary Kay Blakely was a prominent American writer, feminist journalist, and educator, known for her essays, memoirs, and contributions to major publications such as The New York Times and Ms. magazine. Her work often bridged the personal and the political, exploring motherhood, mental health, identity, and social justice. She also served as a professor in journalism, shaping new generations of writers.

Blakely’s voice was candid, insightful, and deeply human—her writing helped many readers see their own struggles reflected and validated.

Early Life and Education

Mary Kay Blakely was born on February 18, 1948 in Chicago, Illinois, into a conservative Catholic family.

She attended an all-girls Catholic high school, where she was active in writing and journalism in early years. Northern Illinois University while living in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Her academic and intellectual development included exposure to feminist thought, writing, and scholarship, which influenced her later work.

Career and Achievements

Journalism and Writing

Blakely began journalism somewhat “accidentally” after giving a speech about her experiences as a new mother; impressed, the editor of the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette invited her to write a weekly column. The New York Times (“Hers” columns), Ms. magazine (Personal Words column), Vogue, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times Magazine, Life, and many others.

Her essays often explored feminist themes, motherhood, mental health, politics, identity, and the intersections of private life and public discourse.

Memoirs & Major Books

Some of Blakely’s notable books include:

• Wake Me When It’s Over: A Journey to the Edge and Back (1989) — A memoir centered on her nine-day coma in 1984, including reflections on family, mental health, stress, and identity.

• American Mom: Motherhood, Politics, and Humble Pie (1994) — Her reflections on motherhood, feminist tensions, and public life.

• Red, White, and Oh So Blue: A Memoir of Political Depression (1996) — An exploration of political disillusionment, emotional burden, and civic identity.

• She also edited Pulling Our Own Strings: A Collection of Feminist Humor & Satire with Gloria Kaufman.

Her works are held in manuscript collections (for example, her papers at the State Historical Society of Missouri) which include drafts, correspondence, essays, and research materials.

Academic & Teaching Roles

In 1997, Blakely accepted a full-time professorship at the Missouri School of Journalism, where she taught advanced writing and mentored students. Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne in Women’s Studies (1976–1980) and lectured at the New School for Social Research (1984–1997).

She was an influential figure in feminist journalism circles and contributed to conferences and programs aimed at amplifying women’s voices.

Themes, Style & Influence

Blakely’s writing style is often frank, self-reflective, deeply personal but aware of societal contexts. She blurred the boundary between memoir and cultural critique, showing how personal struggles (mental health, family, identity) are embedded in political and social structures.

Recurring themes in her work include:

• Motherhood and identity — the complexity of being a feminist mother in a society with entrenched expectations.

• Mental health & crisis — particularly in Wake Me When It’s Over, her coma becomes a metaphor and lens for grappling with trauma, burnout, and existential questions.

• Political alienation — in Red, White, and Oh So Blue, she articulates a kind of “political depression,” how civic life and media contribute to emotional burden.

• Intersection of the personal & public — she argues that private lives are political, and political culture shapes inner lives.

Her influence is seen in feminist journalism, memoir writing, and in her role as educator, mentoring many students who later became writers and commentators.

Famous or Notable Quotes

While Blakely is less widely quoted in mainstream quote collections, some of her insights and expressions stand out (drawn from her essays and public remarks):

• On her feminist identity:

  “You should be proud to be a feminist, but there is no such thing as an overnight conversion.”

• On motherhood, writing, and public life (reflected in her themes):

  “A society that gives men irresponsible power and women powerless responsibility” (as paraphrased in tributes to her)

• From memoir reflections (as described in reviews of Wake Me When It’s Over):

  In her coma, she heard voices she identified as real people that would “melt into the bizarre plots and characters of surreal dreams.”

Because many of her most powerful lines occur within essays and memoirs, they often appear in context rather than as standalone epigrams.

Legacy & Impact

Mary Kay Blakely’s legacy persists in several spheres:

• Feminist memoir & journalism: Her work remains a model of blending personal narrative with social critique.

• Education & mentorship: As a professor, she influenced countless journalists and writers, encouraging authenticity and critical voice.

• Archival record: Her papers, preserved at the State Historical Society of Missouri, offer a rich resource for scholars studying late 20th-century feminist writing and journalism.

• Cultural relevance: Her books are still read and cited in discussions about motherhood, mental health, and the stress of civic life. Tributes and remembrances highlight how her honesty and generosity touched many.

She passed away on June 3, 2023, in Columbia, Missouri.

Lessons from Her Life and Work

1. Vulnerability is strength
   Blakely turned personal crises (coma, depression, family strife) into platforms for deeper insight—showing readers they are not alone in struggle.

2. Personal is political
   She demonstrated that individual lives — especially women’s lives — are inseparable from larger societal forces.

3. Persist across mediums
   She moved fluidly between journalism, memoir, teaching, editing — showing that a writer’s voice can find many outlets.

4. Mentorship matters
   Her role as educator and mentor underscores how influence is multiplied when writers support others.

5. Archival and intellectual legacy
   By preserving her papers and maintaining honesty in her work, she provides a foundation for future scholarship on feminist writing.

If you wish, I can provide a more detailed thematic analysis of Wake Me When It’s Over or a compendium of Mary Kay Blakely’s lesser-known essays. Would you like me to do that?

Citation

• Women’s Media Center – profile of Mary Kay Blakely

• Publishers Weekly review of Wake Me When It’s Over

• Mary Kay Blakely Papers, State Historical Society of Missouri

• Herstory oral history interview, Mary Kay Blakely