Dorothy Allison was born on April 11, 1949 in Greenville, South Carolina, and grew up as the oldest child of an unwed, teenage mother. She was the first member of her family to graduate from high school. She earned her B.A. in 1971 from Florida Presbyterian (now Eckerd) College, which she attended on a National Merit Scholarship. Allison subsequently did graduate work in anthropology at Florida State University, The Sagaris Institute, and the New School for Social Research, where she earned a M.A. in urban anthropology in 1981.

From 1973-1974, she was the editor of the feminist magazine, in Tallahassee Florida. From 1973-1974, she was a founding manager of Herstore Feminist Bookstore in Tallahassee. She was also an editor at from 1976-1979

Allison's writings were originally published in , , and , early lesbian and gay journals. Her chapbook of poetry, , was first published by Long Haul Press in 1983. Her short story collection, , was first published by Firebrand Books in 1988, winning two Lambda Literary Awards and the American Library Association Prize for Lesbian and Gay Writing.

She received mainstream recognition with her first novel, , published by Dutton and a finalist for the 1992 National Book Prize. The book was a best seller and was made into an award-winning movie. Subsequent books included , a group of narrative essays published by Firebrand Books in 1994, and , published by Dutton in 1995. , published in 1998, was lauded as a notable book, and also became a best seller. Allison continues to write, speak, lecture, and teach in writing workshops, colleges, women's studies departments and organizations, and feminist and activist groups.

This biographical note was created in part from information provided on Allison's website, dorothyallison.net.