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. Daniel horowitz further complicated the books legacy with his 1998 book betty friedan and the making of the feminine mystique. It is the most famous of betty friedans works, and it made her a household name. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. This is the book that defined the problem that has no name, that launched the second wave of the feminist movement, and. But a big and troubling thought hit me while reading the book. Betty friedan, nee bettye naomi goldstein, born february 4, 1921, peoria, illinois, u. Friedan did just that when she published the feminine mystique.
Apr 07, 2020 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. Feb 19, 20 the feminine mystique tends to be hailed simply as the book that started secondwave feminism, said lisa m. The most important book of the twentieth century is the feminine mystique. Feministic in a good way, without the morbid extravaganza other reads of that type hold, its relevant even now and if you dont choose to believe so, at least you can appreciate it as a historical document. Like her last novel, our kind, which was a national book award finalist, a short history of women consists of linked stories. Labor union radicalism and feminism in cold war america, daniel horowitz sets out to reshape our understanding of both friedans past and her reasons for writing the feminine mystique 1963 by bringing to light a new way of looking at a time in friedans life that is absent from the book. Why the feminine mystique is still worth reading in 20. Betty friedan and the making of the feminine mystique book. At a time when it was widely accepted women would become complacent housewives, friedan challenged modern advertising, culture, and misogyny in her book the feminine mystique.
The feminine mystique betty friedan read online free books. In it, he exposed a startling, weirdly littleknown truth about its. Us history chapter 30 betty friedan the feminine mystique. Betty friedan and the making of the feminine mystique. The impact of betty friedans novel the feminine mystique. Besides the feminine mystique 1963, friedan authored it changed my life. This month marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of the feminine mystique, betty friedans book that raised the consciousness of millions who read it and shared it in a 1960s kind of way. Journalist, activist, and cofounder of the national organization for women, betty friedan was one of the early leaders of the womens rights movement of the 1960s and 1970s. World war ii was such a monumental event that it is commonly used as a cultural divider for the twentieth century.
This day in jewish history betty friedans the feminine. Defining this concept in her book is thought to have started 1960s feminism. Feminists of the 1960s and 1970s would later say the feminine mystique was the book that started it all. Betty friedans groundbreaking book challenged the conventional wisdom that a womans place was in the home. She also helped advance the womens rights movement as one of the founders of the national organization for women now. This book is pure outdated drivel, something we should be thankful was released into the world at the time, but should now be placed in a museum and looked upon wistfully, as a curious relic of an exciting yet still misguided period in feminine history. Still, even friedans critics apart from those who think that the womens movement was a bad idea altogether agree that the feminine mystique was a book that helped to change the world. The impact it has had on american womens history is unparalleled, and the book should therefore remain canonized as a pivotal feminist text. Though friedans book had spawned what came to be known as the. In the feminine mystique, betty friedan put a spotlight on the hidden, yet immense problems women faced during the 1950s. 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. It was and is important because it helped encourage so many women, during that. These are the sources and citations used to research the impact of betty friedans novel the feminine mystique. Npr stories about the feminine mystique betty friedan, cofounder of national organization for women now, speaks during the womens strike for equality event in new york on aug.
Throughout the book, friedan compares many prewar and postwar statistics and examples to support her points. Rethinking betty friedan and the feminine mystique. The feminine mystique by betty friedan is an iconic book that relentlessly changed the way the american woman saw herself, until its first publication in 1963. Video the feminine mystique watch makers women who make. In 1963 betty friedan published a groundbreaking work that empowered a generation of women. The feminine mystique is a book by betty friedan that is widely credited with sparking the beginning of secondwave feminism in the united states. Friedan wrote a book named the feminine mystique, which has become an international bestseller and has sold over one million copies since its release in 1963citation, from opening of book. Allan wolf, in the mystique of betty friedan writes. Why is the feminine mystique still important and affecting. Feb 10, 20 at 50, does feminine mystique still roar.
Writings on the womens movement 1976, the second stage 1982, the fountain of age 1993. Betty friedan described the feminine mystique in her 1963 bestseller. 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. Friedan also cites world war ii as the main impetus for the development of 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. In 1957, friedan was asked to conduct a survey of her former smith college classmates for their 15th. Source a is an excerpt of a book written by betty friedan in 1963 called the feminine mystique. The american left, the cold war, and modern feminism culture, politics and the cold war. 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.
Pdf the feminine mystique book by betty friedan free. Best known for starting the second wave of feminism through the writing of her book the feminine mystique an account of housewives lives in which they subordinated their own aspirations to the needs of men. Or, as alvin toffler put it, hers was a book that pulled the trigger on history. Her book, the feminine mystique, published on february 19, 1963, shook the ground beneath an american society rooted in a myth of pleasant domesticity. The feminine mystique by betty friedan, published in 1963, is often seen as the beginning of the womens liberation movement. This book describes the early 20th century turning of women from vital human beings, who were fulfilled by higher education and work, into a. Over the years, now would have a spate of public actions. This bibliography was generated on cite this for me on wednesday, march 11, 2015 book. After the book the feminine mystique was published in 1963, many women began reaching out to one another, pouring out their anger and sadness in what came to be. Summary of betty friedans the feminine mystique 1537 words 7 pages. After the book the feminine mystique was published in 1963, many women began reaching out to one another, pouring out their anger and sadness in what came to be known as consciousnessraising sessions. Landmark, groundbreaking, classicthese adjectives barely describe the earthshaking and longlasting effects of betty friedans the feminine mystique. Video the feminine mystique watch makers women who make america online pbs video. Fine, a historian at michigan state university and a coeditor of the first.
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. Landmark, groundbreaking, classicthese adjectives barely do justice to the pioneering vision and lasting impact of the feminine mystique. The feminine mystique, by betty friedan, was one of the most important and influential texts of feminism in the 1960s. Summary of the feminine mystique 723 words bartleby. Her book, the feminine mystique, published on february 19, 1963, shook the ground beneath an american society rooted in a myth of pleasant domesticity and supported by the physical and emotional. Betty friedan is to women what martin luther king, jr. Mar 31, 2020 the feminine mystique by betty friedan.
Yet as daniel horowitz persuasively demonstrates in this illuminating and provocative biography, the roots of friedans feminism run much. Free download or read online the feminine mystique pdf epub book. The mystique is an artificial idea of femininity that says having a career andor fulfilling ones individual potential somehow go against womens preordained role. A landmark book of its time and relevant now the feminine mystique by betty friedan the feminine mystique by betty friedan is a landmark book of its time, and it is still relevant for all women today. Jul 18, 2016 allan wolf, in the mystique of betty friedan writes. The excerpt is titled the problem that has no name, details how women were expected to be a housewife and how they were unhappy with only having that role. Her work propelled the stagnant womens rights movement into its second wave and helped women reclaim some equality. The feminine mystique carries a timeless message for women who have begun fight back against patriarchy, but need the occasional reminder that beginning a fight isnt winning a war. She helped to change not only the thinking but the lives of many american women, but recent books throw into question the intellectual and. The feminine mystique, reassessed after 50 years the new. Nov 05, 2019 her book, the feminine mystique, published on february 19, 1963, shook the ground beneath an american society rooted in a myth of pleasant domesticity and supported by the physical and emotional. She coined the term feminine mystique to describe the societal assumption that women could find fulfillment through housework, marriage.
The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 592 pages and is available in paperback format. The first edition of the novel was published in february 19th 1963, and was written by betty friedan. The feminine mystique, by betty friedan, ushered in a second wave of feminist thought and progress in the united states. In the 56 years since the feminine mystique was published, every complaint friedan made regarding the situation of the american woman. The feminine mystique is the false notion that a womans role in society is to be a wife, mother, and housewife nothing else. The books overall message that the only acceptable role of housewife and mother does not fulfill women reached over one million readers in 1964, a year after the book was published.
May 24, 20 video the feminine mystique watch makers women who make america online pbs video. Feb 19, 2020 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. Her 1963 bestselling book, the feminine mystique, gave voice to millions of american womens frustrations with their limited gender roles and helped spark widespread. February 4, 1921 february 4, 2006 was an american feminist writer and activist. The feminine mystique by betty friedan is published history. With her book the feminine mystique 1963, betty friedan 19212006 broke new ground by exploring the idea of women finding personal fulfillment outside of their traditional roles. This day in jewish history betty friedans the feminine mystique is published. The feminine mystique came out around the same time as four other books that had an unusually immediate impact on public policy. Mar 25, 2016 in rethinking betty friedan and the feminine mystique. The feminine mystique npr coverage of the feminine mystique by betty friedan. Barbara seaman, author of free and female the feminine mystique stated the trouble with women so clearly that every woman could recognize herself in the diagnosis. With world war ii over, women who had been working were told. Mar 01, 2010 the book that changed the consciousness of a countryand the world.