in the feminine mystique 1963 betty friedan

It seemed to be a more moderate feminist position than her earlier work. In 1982, Betty Friedan published The Second Stage, which sought to help women wrestling with the demands of work and home. With such other leading feminists as Gloria Steinem and Bella Abzug, Friedan helped create the National Women’s Political Caucus in 1971.

She wanted women to have a greater role in the political process. Friedan also fought for abortion rights by establishing the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws (now known as NARAL Pro-Choice America) in 1969. She co-founded the National Organization for Women (NOW) in 1966, serving as its first president. Friedan encouraged women to seek new opportunities for themselves.Īs an icon in the women’s rights movement, Betty Friedan did more than write about confining gender stereotypes-she became a force for change. The book became a sensation-creating a social revolution by dispelling the myth that all women wanted to be happy homemakers.

The results of this research formed the basis of The Feminine Mystique. To answer this question, Friedan surveyed other graduates of Smith College. But she was restless as a homemaker and began to wonder if other women felt the same way. Friedan then stayed home to care for her family. She returned to work after her first child was born, but lost her job when she was pregnant with her second, according to The Christian Science Monitor. Friedan got married in 1947 and had three children. Although she received a fellowship to study at the University of California, she chose instead to go to New York to work as a reporter. She advocated for an increased role for women in the political process and is remembered as a pioneer of feminism and the women’s rights movements.Ī bright student, Betty Friedan excelled at Smith College, graduating in 1942 with a bachelor’s degree. She also helped advance the women’s rights movement as one of the founders of the National Organization for Women (NOW). With her book The Feminine Mystique (1963), Betty Friedan (1921-2006) broke new ground by exploring the idea of women finding personal fulfillment outside of their traditional roles.

In the feminine mystique 1963 betty friedan