Ellen Shumsky is recognized for her multifaceted career as a lesbian feminist activist, photographer, psychoanalytic teacher, psychotherapist, and writer. In her early career, during the late 1960s, she lived in Southern France, studying photography under the guidance of her brother-in-law, Harold Chapman. She developed a documentary style, capturing candid moments of people unaware they were being photographed.

Upon returning to the United States in 1969, Shumsky became deeply involved in the nascent Gay Liberation Front and radical lesbian activism. Her photographic work often appeared in underground publications and the GLF newspaper, "Come Out!". This period marked a significant phase in her life, where she focused on documenting critical political movements and their foundational events, fostering a greater sense of self-awareness and concern for the well-being of others. She was an active participant in the feminist and gay liberation movements, notably being a member of the Lavender Menace in 1970 and a founding member of Radicalesbians.

Ellen Shumsky's engagement with activism began with her involvement in the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) and radical lesbian movements upon her return from France in 1969. Her photographic contributions were significant, appearing in underground media and the GLF's "Come Out!" newspaper. This work aimed to capture the essence of emerging political movements and pivotal moments, contributing to a growing awareness of social change and personal introspection. Her participation extended to being a member of the Lavender Menace in 1970 and co-founding Radicalesbians. Her photographic collection, "Portrait of a Decade: 1968-1978," published in 2009, offers a visual record of the feminist, gay liberation, and lesbian movements she documented.

As a founding member of Radicalesbians, Ellen Shumsky played a crucial role in shaping early lesbian feminist discourse. She was one of the authors of the seminal 1970 lesbian feminist manifesto, "The Woman-Identified Woman." This work, published by Radicalesbians, articulated key tenets of lesbian feminism and has been recognized as a foundational text in the movement. Shumsky's contribution to this manifesto, signed under the name Ellen Bedoz, underscores her direct involvement in articulating the political and philosophical underpinnings of lesbian identity and activism during a critical period of social change.