Smeal, Eleanor (Marie Cutri) (1939– )

US social activist. She worked in civic affairs, particularly the League of Women Voters. In 1970 she joined the National Organization for Women (NOW). By 1973 she was elected to the national board of directors, became board chair in 1975, and then served as president 1977–82. After leaving NOW because she found it too conservative, she helped found the Women's Political Caucus and the Feminist Majority Foundation.

She was born in Astabula, Ohio. The child of Italian immigrants, she grew up in Pennsylvania and attended Duke University, from which she graduated in 1961.