Gayle Rubin

Gayle S. Rubin (born January 1 1949) is an American cultural anthropologist. She is an Associate Professor of Anthropology and Women's Studies at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Rubin grew up Jewish in the Southern United States. In 1978, she moved to San Francisco. On June 13 of that year Rubin started the first known lesbian SM group, Samois. In May 1983, the group broke up.
In 1994, Rubin completed her PhD in anthropology at the University of Michigan. She has been an associate professor of anthropology, women's studies and comparative literature since 2004.