Legislation followed. According to Kirsten Fermaglich and Lisa Fine, "women of color—African American, Latina, Asian American and Native American women—were completely absent from Friedan's vision, as were white working-class and poor women. The media perpetuated the notion that women went to college only to land a husband—the “Mrs. Many women dropped out of school early to marry, afraid that if they waited too long or became too educated, they would not be able to attract a husband. Magazine articles further suggested better ways to find fulfillment through sex. Its arguments, broadly speaking, were less relevant, because twice as many women were in the workforce as had been during the 1950s. Why were these young women so seemingly uninterested in having careers and educations, the very rights their suffragette mothers had worked so hard to secure? The Feminine Mystique was one of many catalysts for the second-wave feminist movement (1960s–80s). '"[9], Chapter 2: Friedan states that the editorial decisions concerning women's magazines at the time were being made mostly by men, who insisted on stories and articles that showed women as either happy housewives or unhappy careerists, thus creating the "feminine mystique"—the idea that women were naturally fulfilled by devoting their lives to being housewives and mothers. Read about our approach to external linking. When Friedan interviewed housewives, however, she found that behaviours suggested in magazines and home economics textbooks—such as having dinner on the table when her husband returned from work and making him comfortable by taking off his shoes and offering him a drink—did not always prove fulfilling for women and that most women could not live up to that idealized feminine behaviour. Some of these criticisms have persisted, but only because The Feminine Mystique has remained relevant from the moment of its publication through the present. Social historian Daniel Horowitz, in Betty Friedan and the Making of The Feminine Mystique (1998), revealed that Friedan had been dishonest about her vantage point, which she claimed was that of a suburban mother and housewife. . ‎In 1963, a frustrated American housewife, Betty Friedan, published one of the key texts in feminist thought. Copyright © 2020 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Women everywhere voiced a similar malaise from what Friedan dubbed, the problem that has no name. A collection of interviews with people who were there at key moments in women's history, Looking back at almost six years of global conflict, from Hiroshima to the Holocaust, From the Bolshevik takeover of 1917 to the break-up of the Soviet Union, Events from history when animals took centre stage, Stories of endurance, world records and remarkable athletes, The communities, politics, leaders and events that have shaped Africa, History as told by the people who were there, More than 50 first-hand accounts of significant moments in WW2, Animals Who Made History: Programmes and downloads, Don't miss these stories of astonishing achievement. "Her work indicates for us the ways that feminism was interconnected with the struggles of working-class men and women, with black and Jewish battles against racism and anti-Semitism… As a result, The Feminine Mystique had substantial impact on a wide range of political activists, thinkers, and ordinary individuals. Though perhaps not the typical housewife—she had been involved in radical politics from a young age and had a degree in psychology from Smith College—Betty Friedan is often credited as the first to give voice to the suffering of millions of seemingly-content American women. In the book, Friedan argues that women have... Who is the publisher of The Feminist Mystique? [31] "Women who valued their roles as mothers and housewives interpreted Friedan's message as one that threatened their stability, devalued their labor, and disrespected their intelligence. Friedan, however, noted that many housewives were unsatisfied with their lives but had difficulty articulating their feelings. The detrimental effects induced by this image were that it narrowed women into the domestic sphere, and that it led many women to lose their own identities. "[6], The phrase "feminine mystique" was created by Friedan to show the assumptions that women would be fulfilled from their housework, marriage, sexual lives, and children. Friedan also states that this is in contrast to the 1930s, at which time women's magazines often featured confident and independent heroines, many of whom were involved in careers. Despite these criticisms, her "language aimed at white American middle-class women won large numbers of supporters to the feminist cause," implying perhaps that Friedan's decision to exclude other groups was deliberate in mobilizing a group of women that had in some cases not thought of the improvement of their rights. NOW (The National Organization for Women) was organized in 1966 with 30 women from different backgrounds; Friedan was one of them, and helped draft the founding statement of NOW. Friedan also argued that the feminine mystique hurt women both personally and professionally, and she held that, for women as well as for men, identity was largely cultivated through a sense of personal achievement, primarily through a career. Omissions? In 1963, a frustrated American housewife, Betty Friedan, published one of the key texts in feminist thought. Amazing new appliances and products spared her from the drudgery of housework, allowing her to devote herself to being the perfect wife, the perfect mother, and, therefore, the perfect woman. Despite the ensuing criticism, the book undeniably galvanized many women to think about their roles and identities in society. "[23], By the year 2000, The Feminine Mystique had sold more than 3 million copies and had been translated into many foreign languages. On the 50th anniversary of its publication, The New York Times wrote that "it remains enduring shorthand for the suffocating vision of domestic goddess-hood Friedan is credited with helping demolish. Politicians began to recognize the frustrations of women due in part to Betty Friedan. It called for a shakeup of… She postulates that these women unconsciously stretch their home duties to fill the time available, because the feminine mystique has taught women that this is their role, and if they ever complete their tasks they will become unneeded. It is the most famous of Betty Friedan’s works, and it made her a household name. Its arguments, broadly speaking, were less relevant, because twice as many women were in the workforce as had been during the 1950s. The Feminine Mystique drew large numbers of white, middle-class women to the feminist cause. She was transformed by popular media into a domestic goddess—beautiful, feminine, and sublimely happy. [22], In addition to its contribution to feminism, The Feminine Mystique related to many other coinciding movements. Assistant Professor of History, University of Central Oklahoma.

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