Her mother was a nursery school teacher and her father worked as a manager in a rubber goods factory.
There she attended a seminar on nonviolence conducted by Staughton Lynd and became involved with the Committee on Appeal for Human Rights.
[4][5] During her time in Mississippi, Allen was romantically involved with Ralph Featherstone, a black Freedom Summer organizer.
[7] Following her graduation from Carleton, she moved to New York City, where she worked at an agency that found homes for foster children.
[1] Allen later left the group, criticizing their views of motherhood and rejection of traditional roles for women.
[12] She was also involved with the Bridal Fair action of 1969, the Miss America protest, and International Women's Day.