The Feminine Mystique

The Feminine Mystique

‘The Feminine Mystique’ written by Betty Friedan, is a book that explores the unhappiness of women within the mid-20^th century. Released in 1963, it explored the post-World War II American lifestyle of women, and how women were expected to be housewives and mothers. The 1950’s idealised image of housewives and women in society, was beginning to be overlooked, as many women were realising that in reality, they were unhappy with this role and wanted more from life.  

The 1960’s saw a rise in the number of jobs that were available to single, young women. By 1962 there were over 26,000 girls at university.¹ From this, it gave women the sense of independence that they had lacked before, and gave them much more greater financial and intellectual freedom. Women could see much more for themselves in the future, not just becoming a mother and wife. A voice for women was beginning to be made to make a stand to become equal. Movements like Women’s Lib came about, which demanded equal pay and opportunities for women. The second wave feminism movement was said to have been kick-started due to the effects of Betty Friedan and her book. The movement looked at a broad range of issues such as; workplace, sexuality, family life and legal inequalities. It also looked at much more serious issues such as domestic violence and marital rape. It lead to women’s shelters being built and changes to custody and divorce laws. Friedan also fought for the abortion rights and to make it legal. She established the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws (now known as NARAL Pro-Choice America) in 1969. Freidan says; "One of the things that should come out of the women's movement is a sense of liberating and enriching ways of working out career and family life, and diverse ways of rearing our children and figuring out how to have a home and haven."²

However Friedan’s book was not all praised, it was said that Friedan overlooked all societies of women and just focused on talking on behalf of middle-classed, white women. Bell Hooks author of From Margin to Center, looks at the idea that Friedan had written myopically, as though women of other races and classes (those who, she argued, were most victimized by sexist oppression) simply didn't exist.³

Despite this, Freidan shaped the path of American feminism by allowing women to not be content and settle with the stereotype of women’s life, and actually fight for a change. Thanks to this, women now have birth control pills, better paid jobs and far more equal rights than they ever did in the 60’s.

¹BBC 2, The changing role of women in the 1960s, 2 July 2012

² Friedan at her home in Marina del Rey. (1992, April 26). LOS ANGELES TIMES INTERVIEW: Betty Friedan : Beyond the 'Feminine Mystique:' A New Era of Women's Rights.

³ Fetters, A. (2013, February 12). 4 Big Problems With The Feminine Mystique.