Dolly Browder describes her family's labor background and suggests that it encouraged the non-conformist attitude that led to her forming the first all women forest firefighting crew called the Red Star actively participating in 1970s women's consciousness raising groups becoming a midwife battling to attain legal status for midwifery in Montana and training new midwives. Browder was also active in organizations such as the University of Montana Women's Resource Center Women's Place and MANA Midwives Alliance of North America.