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 post world war ii period. Betty friedan biography childhood, life achievements. Pdf the feminine mystique book by betty friedan free. And after i was fired for being pregnant, i was technically a housewife.
Her 1963 bestselling book, the feminine mystique, gave voice to millions of. In this powerful and very personal book, betty friedan charted her own voyage of discovery, and that of others, into a different kind of aging. Ever since the feminist movement began, the importance of gender equality has been strongly debated. The first edition of the novel was published in february 19th 1963, and was written by betty friedan. This groundbreaking and lifechanging work remains just as powerful, important and true as it was fortyfive years ago, and is essential reading both as a historical document and as a. Betty friedan was an american feminist writer and activist. The feminine mystique betty friedan download free ebook. Betty friedan wrote the book the feminine mystique which ignited the contemporary womens movement in 1963. Betty friedans childhoold betty friedan was born on february 4, 1921 and grew up in peoria, illinois she was the oldest of harry and miriam goldsteins three children the goldsteins were middle class, with a maid and a cook betty goldstein later married cal friedan, so she will be refered to as friedan. The feminine mystique, by betty friedan, was one of the most important and influential texts of feminism in the 1960s. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 592 pages and is available in paperback format. 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. Betty friedan was a manhater, and the feminine mystique was antimarriage. In 1957, friedan was asked to conduct a survey of her former smith college classmates for their 15th.
Womens movement, her 1963 book the feminine mystique is sometimes credited with sparking the second wave of feminism. But many analysts threw the book at their patients and freudian theories became accepted fact even among women who never lay down on an analysts couch, but only knew what they read or heard. The feminine mystique is a book written by betty friedan that is widely credited with sparking the beginning of secondwave feminism in the united states. Betty friedan born february 4, 1921 died february 4, 2006 was an american writer, activist and feminist. Betty friedans feminine mystique 50 years later the new. The feminine mystique to take a job in a realestate office. Buy the feminine mystique penguin modern classics 01 by friedan, betty isbn. In 1963, writer, feminist and womens rights activist betty friedan published the feminine mystique, which explores the idea of women finding fulfillment beyond traditional roles. Bella abzug, congresswoman shirley chisholm, and feminist gloria steinem. It was and is important because it helped encourage so. Betty friedan february 4, 1921february 4, 2006 was an author and activist whose seminal 1963 book the feminine mystique is credited with helping spark the modern feminist movement in the united states. My mother had wanted a career but married an army officer and moved every year and a half, making it. She is remembered as one of the leading voices of the feminist and womens rights movement of the twentieth century. In 1957, friedan wrote a questionnaire for her former classmates at a reunion at the allfemale, smith college.
Betty friedan quotes author of the feminine mystique. Rebecca solnits faith in feminist storytelling the new yorker. Writer, feminist and womens rights activist betty friedan wrote the feminine mystique 1963 and cofounded the national organization for women. Betty friedan, feminism, and jewish identity, from joyce. 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. The main characters of this feminism, non fiction story are. February 4, 1921 february 4, 2006 was an american feminist writer and activist.
Betty friedan s childhoold betty friedan was born on february 4, 1921 and grew up in peoria, illinois she was the oldest of harry and miriam goldsteins three children the goldsteins were middle class, with a maid and a cook betty goldstein later married cal friedan, so she will be refered to as friedan. Betty friedan died of heart failure on february 4, 2006, in washington, d. 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. 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 suburban houewlfeshe of the efican women it was said, of women all over the world. Eleanor smeal, president of the feminist majority foundation, talks with liane hansen about friedan s impact.
Betty friedan, the author of the feminine mystique, helped begin a new interest in womens rights, debunking the myth that all middleclass women were happy in the homemaker role. Friedan found ordinary men and women, moving into their struggling to hold on to the illusion of youth, friedan wrote, we have denied the reality and evaded the new triumphs of growing older. Friedan wrote that the time for huge demonstrations and other such events had passed. Feminist 1990 by justine blau, published by chelsea house publishers. Eleanor smeal, president of the feminist majority foundation, talks with liane hansen about friedans impact. Betty friedans feminist manifesto, published on this day, feb. Labor union radicalism and feminism in cold war america, american quarterly, vol. Mar 01, 2010 the book that changed the consciousness of a countryand the world.
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. Betty friedan was one of the founders of the national organization for women. This suggestion is made by daniel horowitz in his reassessment of friedans feminism. May 30, 2016 betty friedan, the godmother of the postwar us womens movement, was an accidental feminist. Publication of the feminine mystique by betty friedan. All she wanted, she said, was what every other american girl wantedto get married, have four children and live in a nice house in a nicesubtrrty. Betty friedan 19212006 is hailed by historians as a seminal figure in the second wave of the womens feminist movement. Betty friedan, christened bettye naomi goldstein, was born on february 4, 1921, in peoria, illinois, to miriam and harry goldstein, who were jews hailing from russia and hungary. This is the book that defined the problem that has no name, that launched the second wave of the feminist movement, and has been. Her father owned a jewellery store while her mother was a housewife who started to work after harry fell ill. Betty friedan 1963 the feminine mystique chapter 5 the sexual solipsism of sigmund freud. Feb 04, 2006 betty friedan, whose manifesto the feminine mystique became a best seller in the 1960s, laid the groundwork for the modern feminist movement. It was and is important because it helped encourage so many women, during that. Chapter 5 from betty friedans epochmaking feminie mystique, on freud.
Aug 11, 2015 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. Today it newly penetrates to the heart of isuues determining our lives and sounds a call to arms against the very real dangers of a newe feminine mystique in the economic and political turbulence of the 1990s. Betty friedan, whose manifesto the feminine mystique became a best seller in the 1960s, laid the groundwork for the modern feminist movement. Among her other accomplishments, friedan was the founder and first president of the national organization for women now. Betty friedan 19210204 20060204 feminista y escritora estadounidense. It shares that space with, among others, the bible and the koran. In almost every professional field, in business and in the arts and sciences. The feminine mystique, a landmark book by feminist betty friedan published in 1963 that described the pervasive dissatisfaction among women in mainstream. In 1966, betty friedan was one of the key founders of the national organization for women now.
Ever since the 1963 publication of her landmark book, the feminine mystique, betty friedan has insisted that her commitment to womens rights grew out of her experiences as an alienated suburban housewife. Historian martin seymoursmith places betty friedans the feminine mystique firmly on a list of the 100 most influential books ever written. So my children, yes, they grew up in rockland county, and i wrote my book, the feminine mystique. Friedan cofounded national organization for women in 1966 which aimed to bring. Until i started writing the feminine mystique she confessed in 1973, i. An analysis of betty friedans the feminine mystique the macat library elizabeth whitaker. When the feminine mystique, a book written by betty friedan, was first distributed to the public, it awoke a battle that women in the 1960s didnt even know they could fight modern feminism. In her book, she describes a womans life in the 1950s as completely centred around being a mother and housewife. Once again, feminists take up fight we shouldnt have the. In 1963, the year she published the feminine mystique, betty friedan was living in grand viewonhudson, new york, in an elevenroom house overlooking the river, with her husband, carl, and.
The feminine mystique is a book by betty friedan that is widely credited with sparking the. Betty friedan, nee bettye naomi goldstein, born february 4, 1921, peoria, illinois, u. In nineteen eightyone, betty friedan wrote about the condition of the womens movement. My mother had wanted a career but married an army officer and moved every year and a. How did betty friedans book the feminine mystique affect. The only way for a woman, as for a man, to find herself, to know herself as a person, is by creative work of her own. Betty friedans feminine mystique 50 years later the. Betty friedan biography, birth date, birth place and pictures. In 1963, the year she published the feminine mystique, betty friedan was living in grand viewonhudson, new york, in an elevenroom house overlooking the. She coined the term feminine mystique to describe the societal assumption that women could find fulfillment through housework, marriage, sexual passivity. Betty friedan, the godmother of the postwar us womens movement, was an accidental feminist. Once again, feminists take up fight we shouldnt have. Friedan s controversial book about these women and every woman would ultimately set second wave feminism in motion and begin the battle for equality. Outrageous acts and everyday rebellions gloria steinem.
Yet as daniel horowitz persuasively demonstrates in this illuminating and provocative biography, the roots of friedans feminism run much deeper than. The book that changed the consciousness of a countryand the world. Quotes from betty friedan, feminist founder and writer. The results revealed that many women shared the same frustrations as her in their roles as housewives and mothers. Biography of betty friedan, feminist, writer, activist. Betty friedan19212006 is hailed by historians as a seminal figure in the second wave of the womens feminist movement. 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. Rebecca solnits faith in feminist storytelling the new.
When friedans book came out, it articulated all the doubts i had about becoming a housewife. Betty friedan and the making of the feminine mystique. Landmark, groundbreaking, classicthese adjectives barely describe the earthshaking and longlasting effects of betty friedans the feminine mystique. Betty friedan, the feminist crusader and author whose searing first book, the feminine mystique, ignited the contemporary womens movement in 1963 and in so doing permanently transformed the.
Jul 26, 2019 betty friedan february 4, 1921february 4, 2006 was an author and activist whose seminal 1963 book the feminine mystique is credited with helping spark the modern feminist movement in the united states. 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. The feminine mystique discussed the idealized happysuburbanhousewife image that then was marketed to many women as their best if not their only option in life. The publication of betty friedans the feminine mystique, on february 17, 1963, is often cited as the founding moment of secondwave feminism. In her groundbreaking 1963 book the feminine mystique, feminist leader betty friedan dared to write about the problem that has no name. See his rethinking betty friedan and the feminine mystique. Until i started writing the feminine mystique she confessed in 1973, i wasnt even. Betty friedan, a pioneer of the modern feminist movement, died saturday at 85. The real enemy is womens denigration of themselves. In this very readable book, daniel horowitz examines betty friedans political and intellectual origins and finds good reason to question the widely held understanding that the feminine mystique was written out of the perspective and consciousness of a typical surburban housewife. This is the book that defined the problem that has no name, that launched the second wave of the feminist movement, and.
Comparte en facebook comparte en twitter comparte en whatsapp. A leading figure in the womens movement in the united states, her 1963 book the feminine. In the half century since the publication of the feminine mystique, many myths have grown up about what friedan actually wrote and what the feminist movement, which she helped found, has and has not achieved. 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. Gender equality in the feminine mystique, by betty friedan. 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. First published in 1963, the feminine mystique ignited a revolution that profoundly changed our culture, our conciousness, and our lives.
1332 148 12 412 1202 1112 453 43 860 23 643 610 796 1669 103 1079 978 361 1456 325 612 1514 1341 1496 1029 511 1570 1335 1261 1381 1343 597 241 559 168 1200 249 461 714 967 987 51 1334 735 1395