The feminine mystique, by betty friedan narrated by. They were particularly active in the munitions factories that built the weapons and equipment that soldiers needed. The book highlighted friedans view of a coercive and pervasive postworld war ii ideology of female domesticity that stifled middleclass womens opportunities to be anything but homemakers. May 18, 2018 you scoff at the person claiming that you have been destined to be a housewife as you are booking your next flight to an allgirls holiday in the bahamas. Well, in case you didnt know, you have betty friedan to thank. If you want to understand the passion that helped fire up the modern womens movement, there may be no better place to start than with the feminine mystique. It is the most famous of betty friedans works, and it made her a household name. When i read friedans seminal 1963 work the feminine mystique at age 16, it changed my lifefor the first. Today it newly penetrates to the heart of issues determining our lives and sounds a call to arms against the very real dangers of a new feminine mystique in the economic and political turbulence of the 1990s.
Mar 01, 2010 the book that changed the consciousness of a countryand the world. The feminine mystique, by betty friedan, ushered in a second wave of feminist thought and progress in the united states. Excerpt from the feminine mystique following is an excerpt from the feminine mystique, by betty friedan. Ive got tears in my eyes with sheer relief that my own inner turmoil is shared with other women, a young. Chapter 1 2 the problem that has no name 3 4 betty friedan 5 6 the problem lay buried, unspoken, for many years in the minds of american women. Betty friedan marks the 1940s as the decade in which the feminine mystique entered the american consciousness. Although there has been recent criticism of betty friedan s book the feminine mystique, there is no doubt, even in the minds of her harshest critics, that her book had such a profound impact on. The feminine mystique betty friedan chapter 2 the happy housewife heroine why have so many american wives suffered this nameless aching dissatisfaction for so many years, each one thinking she was alone. Betty friedan biography author of the feminine mystique betty friedan this study guide consists of approximately 102 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the feminine mystique. Sep 17, 2001 first published in 1963, the feminine mystique ignited a revolution that profoundly changed our culture, our consciousness, and our lives. Inspired by a questionnaire friedan then a suburban housewife sent to her classmates from the smith 1942 class. The feminine mystique project gutenberg selfpublishing.
The publication of betty friedans the feminine mystique, on february 17, 1963, is often cited as the founding moment of secondwave feminism. Rethinking betty friedan and the feminine mystique. Betty friedan february 4, 1921 february 4, 2006 was an american writer, activist and feminist. Feminist 1990 by justine blau, published by chelsea house publishers. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. Her and her 1963 seminal book, the feminine mystique pdf summary. A leading figure in the womens movement in the united states, her 1963 book the feminine mystique is often credited with sparking the second wave of american feminism in the 20th century. The first student edition of betty friedans national best seller published in honor of its fiftieth anniversary.
Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Landmark, groundbreaking, classicthese adjectives barely do justice to the pioneering vision and lasting impact of the feminine mystique. The feminine mystique dren at nursery school and taken them home to nap, two of the women cried, in sheer relief, just to know they were not alone. Publication of the feminine mystique by betty friedan. The book that changed the consciousness of a countryand the world. She argued in the book that there was more to life for women than the achievements of their husbands and children. These citations may not conform precisely to your selected citation style. The feminine mystique betty friedan, kirsten fermaglich, lisa. In the feminine mystique, betty friedan wrote about this problem of idealized happysuburbanhousewife image that was marketed to many women as their best if not their only option in life. Why the feminine mystique is still worth reading in 20. Feminist movement lesson plan by kevin murphy 1 the feminine mystique. Jan 14, 2019 the feminine mystique by betty friedan, published in 1963, is often seen as the beginning of the womens liberation movement. Her work propelled the stagnant womens rights movement into its second wave and helped women reclaim some equality.
Betty friedan and the making of the feminine mystique. This is the book that defined the problem that has no name, that launched the second wave of the feminist movement, and has been awakening women and men with. Apr 10, 2010 the feminine mystique by betty friedan. Daniel horowitz further complicated the books legacy with his 1998 book betty friedan and the making of the feminine mystique. It was a strange 7 stirring, a sense of dissatisfaction, a yearning that women suffered in the middle of the twentieth century 8 in the united states. The feminine mystique is a book by betty friedan that is widely credited with sparking the beginning of secondwave feminism in the united states. As a magazine writer i often interviewed women about problems with their children, or. In 1963, betty friedan 19212006 published the feminine mystique, a founding text of modern feminism that is considered one of the most influential books of the twentieth century. The main characters of this feminism, non fiction story are. The feminine mystique, a landmark book by feminist betty friedan published in 1963 that described the pervasive dissatisfaction among women in mainstream. It was a strange stirring, a sense of dissatisfaction, a yearning that women suffered in the middle of the twentieth century in the united states. Pdf download for betty crocker versus betty friedan.
The feminine mystique by betty friedan, published in 1963, is often seen as the beginning of the womens liberation movement. Betty friedan and the making of the feminine mystique book. Indeed, the feminine mystique grew out of an idea friedan had proposed to mccalls, ladies home journal and redbook, all of which rejected. Although there has been recent criticism of betty friedans book the feminine mystique, there is no doubt, even in the minds of her harshest critics, that her book had such a profound impact on. The books overall message that the only acceptable role of housewife and mother does not fulfill women reached over. The feminine mystique is the title of a book written by betty friedan who also founded the national organization for women now to help us women gain equal rights. February 4, 1921 february 4, 2006 was an american feminist writer and activist. Friedan s findings provided a cleareyed analysis of the issues that affected womens lives in the decades after the second world war, and became the basis to her book, the feminine mystique. Betty friedans 1963 book the feminine mystique, from which this excerpt is taken, changed the lives of many american women by bringing their restlessness and unhappiness to public attention. Audible studios first published in 1963, the feminine mystique ignited a revolution that profoundly changed our culture, our consciousness, and our lives. The feminine mystique pdf summary in 1957, at their 15 th anniversary reunion, friedan conducted a survey of her former smith college classmates.
The book highlighted friedan s view of a coercive and pervasive postworld war ii ideology of female domesticity that stifled middleclass womens opportunities to be anything but homemakers. The feminine mystique is a 1963 book by betty friedan which is widely credited with sparking the beginning of secondwave feminism in the united states. Feminist is a biographical account of betty friedans life from editorialist for a labor newspaper in greenwich village ny and author of the 1963 groundbreaking book, the feminine mystique which challenged the traditional role of women as homemakers, to political activist in the fight. Betty friedan 1921 2006 was an american writer, activist and feminist, widely credited with starting the second wave of the womens movement in the united states with her 1963 book the feminine mystique. While men were fighting during world war ii, women took over many of the jobs that would have normally gone to men. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of the feminine mystique by betty friedan. Betty friedans feminine mystique 50 years later the. Published in 1963, it gave a pitchperfect description of the problem that has no name. Back when they studied together, most of them were smart, ambitious, capable, dreamyeyed. The feminine mystique was hugely influential in womens movement. Columnists ann quindlen and gail collins add to anniversary edition.
The feminine mystique study guide from litcharts the. Pdf the feminine mystique book by betty friedan free. Labor union radicalism and feminism in cold war america daniel horowitz smith college in a certain sense it was almost accidentalcoincidentalthat i wrote the feminine mystique, and in another sense my whole life had prepared me to. Feminists of the 1960s and 1970s would later say the feminine mystique was the book that started it all. Free download or read online the feminine mystique pdf epub book. In the feminine mystique, betty friedan put a spotlight on the hidden, yet immense problems women faced during the 1950s.
She describes the feminine mystique as the heightened awareness of the expectations of women and how each woman has to fit a certain role as a. The feminine mystique is the false notion that a womans role in society is to be a wife, mother, and housewife nothing else. The first edition of the novel was published in february 19th 1963, and was written by betty friedan. The feminine mystique chapter 14, a new life plan for women. Relevance and limitations in contemporary western culture in 1963, betty friedan published the feminine mystique, a book that addressed the growing discontent of american middleclass housewives excluded from social and productive. The most important book of the twentieth century is the feminine. The feminine mystique, a landmark book by feminist betty friedan published in 1963 that described the pervasive dissatisfaction among women in mainstream american society in the postworld war ii period. The mystique is an artificial idea of femininity that says having a career andor fulfilling ones individual potential somehow go against womens preordained role. She coined the term feminine mystique to describe the societal assumption that women could find fulfillment through housework, marriage, sexual passivity, and child rearing alone. Friedans findings provided a cleareyed analysis of the issues that affected womens lives in the decades after the second world war, and became the basis to her book, the feminine mystique. Landmark, groundbreaking, classicthese adjectives barely describe the earthshaking and longlasting effects of betty friedans the feminine mystique. Start studying us history chapter 30 betty friedan the feminine mystique.
The problem lay buried, unspoken, for many years in the minds of american women. Betty friedan 19212006, a transformational leader of the womens movement, founded the national organization for women now and. A leading figure in the womens movement in the united states, her 1963 book the feminine mystique is often credited with sparking the second. Betty friedan was a project entered into the 20092010 national history fair. Her father, harry goldstein, emigrated from russia in the 1880s, and built a successful jewelry business in the united states. Betty friedans enduring mystique the new york times. Betty friedan, author of the landmark the feminine mystique, died five years ago today on her 85th birthday. Betty friedan biography author of the feminine mystique. Betty friedans feminine mystique 50 years later the new. The feminine mystique pdf summary betty friedan 12min blog. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them.
The feminine mystique should be required reading for anyone who cares about women. Gradually i came to realize that the problem that has no name was shared by countless women in america. The results revealed that many women shared the same frustrations as her in their roles as housewives and mothers. Betty friedans feminist classic, the feminine mystique, turns 50. Betty wrote the first two of her books in the fredrick lewis allen room of the new york city public library. This month marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of the feminine mystique, betty friedans book that raised the consciousness.
Her father, harry goldstein, emigrated from russia in the 1880s, and built a successful. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 592 pages and is available in paperback format. The feminine mystique 50th anniversary edition by betty. Yet the feminine mystique remains important as more than an exercise in look how far weve come. First published in 1963, the feminine mystique ignited a revolution that profoundly changed our culture, our consciousness, and our lives. Betty friedan is to women what martin luther king, jr. In 1963, betty friedan 19212006 published the feminine mystique, a founding text of modern feminism that is considered one of the most influential.
Arianna huffington, writing for o, the oprah magazine says, if youve never read it, read it now. In this article, deploying betty friedans the feminine mystique and the. Reading betty friedans feminine mystique for the first time, 50 years after its publication, a critic found that the book still has the power to. Us history chapter 30 betty friedan the feminine mystique. Reading betty friedans feminine mystique for the first time, 50 years after its publication, a critic found that the book still has the power to surprise and unsettle. Feminist is a biographical account of betty friedans life from editorialist for a labor newspaper in greenwich village ny and author of the 1963 groundbreaking book, the feminine. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. We took a look back at her life and the impact of her work. Feb 19, 20 reading betty friedans feminine mystique for the first time, 50 years after its publication, a critic found that the book still has the power to surprise and unsettle. Today it newly penetrates to the heart of issues determining our lives. The feminine mystique, by betty friedan, ushered in a second wave of.