Due to the uncertainty of the corona virus, the feminine mystique art gallery will be closed for 2 weeks starting march 20. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the feminine mystique 50th anniversary edition. If youve never read it, read it now and reflect on what our mothers and grandmothers were feeling at the time. 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. It was written in a postwar era when women were sent back home from the factories to concentrate on family and home and to be the dutiful wife in a. Definition of the feminine mystique the feminine mystique is the false notion that a womans role in society is to be a wife, mother, and housewife nothing else. The feminine mystique, by betty friedan, was one of the most important and influential texts of feminism in the 1960s. World war ii was such a monumental event that it is commonly used as a cultural divider for the twentieth century. She coined the term feminine mystique to describe the societal assumption that women could find fulfillment through housework, marriage, sexual passivity, and child rearing alone. Here are the finest feminist books to brush up on your fem literature. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The feminine mystique is a book by betty friedan that is widely credited with sparking the beginning of secondwave feminism in the united states.
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. In 1966, friedan cofounded and was elected the first. 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. Betty friedans the feminine mystique gave americas housewives an answer to the problem that has. The feminine mystique chapters 5 8 summary and analysis. Betty friedan, who ignited cause in feminine mystique. Its a great moment to celebrate this milestone work, which fundamentally altered the course of. The suburban houewlfeshe of the efican women it was said, of women all over the world. 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. As the repository of betty friedans papers, radcliffes schlesinger library had good cause to recognize the first 50 years of her pathbreaking book, the. The hub of the book is the meaning of the title, which friedan explains as the. Friedans book pulled the trigger on history, in the words of future shock author alvin toffler. The feminine mystique norton critical editions 50 anv edition by friedan, betty 2012 paperback. Jan 14, 2019 the feminine mystique by betty friedan, published in 1963, is often seen as the beginning of the womens liberation movement.
In the feminine mystique, betty friedan put a spotlight on the hidden, yet immense problems women faced during the 1950s. The book that changed the consciousness of a countryand the world. Victims of a false belief system, these women were following strict social convention by loyally conforming to the pretty image of the magazines, and found themselves. Until i started writing the feminine mystique she confessed in 1973, i wasnt even. 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. 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. Throughout the book, friedan compares many prewar and postwar statistics and examples to support her points. Barkerbenfield and catherine clinton new york, 1991, 599615. I found most of her ideas to be extremely well thought out, and i can imagine how much the american housewife of the sixties, and later, really needed these ideas. In it, he exposed a startling, weirdly littleknown truth about its. This work challenged women to move beyond the drudgery of suburban housewifery and helped launch what would become secondwave feminism. It became the bible for the secondwave of feminism.
Online the feminine mystique by betty friedan english how download format german audio price. It was and is important because it helped encourage so many women, during that. The mystique is an artificial idea of femininity that says having a career andor fulfilling ones individual potential somehow go against womens preordained role. Those who think of it as solely a feminist manifesto ought to revisit its pages to get a sense of the magnitude of the research and reporting friedan. He mentioned the book in the class which was amazing and ive wanted to read it, but i waited until i finally managed to read the feminine mystique which i would recommend. It is the most famous of betty friedans works, and it made her a household name. Friedan begins the feminine mystique with an introduction describing the problem that has no namethe widespread unhappiness of women.
Betty friedan, the feminist crusader and author whose searing first book, the feminine mystique, ignited the contemporary womens movement in 1963 and as a result permanently transformed the. 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. Sep 17, 2001 the book that pulled the trigger on history. Her work propelled the stagnant womens rights movement into its second wave and helped women reclaim some equality. February 4, 1921 february 4, 2006 was an american feminist writer and activist. Landmark, groundbreaking, classicthese adjectives barely. Mar 04, 2010 friedans findings provided a cleareyed analysis of the issues that affected womens lives in the decades after the second world war, and became the basis to her book, the feminine mystique. The feminine mystique now feels both revolutionary and utterly contemporary.
Stephanie coontzs useful revisiting of friedans book, a strange stirring. 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 reinvention of american society the feminine mystique now feels both revolutionary and utterly contemporary. Us history chapter 30 betty friedan the feminine mystique. In the book, friedan defines womens unhappiness as the problem that has no name, then she launches. Part social chronicle, part manifesto, the feminine mystique is filled with fascinating anecdotes and interviews as well as insights that continue to inspire. Radcliffes schlesinger library commemorated the 50th anniversary of betty friedans the feminine mystique by hosting a discussion on the evolution of gender roles since the book s release and its relevance to contemporary american society. The feminine mystique and american women at the dawn of the 1960s basic. The book that changed the consciousness of a country. Ive been wanting to read this book since about 2011 when i had the author as a professor in his final semester teaching.
For a womens history nerd like me, this book was awesome. In her book she draws on research into popular culture of the 40s, 50s, and 60s, and interviews with nearly 200 women who read the feminine mystique shortly after it was published. A sensation on publication selling over 3 million copies, it established friedan as one of the chief architects of the womens liberation movement. Betty friedan and the making of the feminine mystique. The feminine mystique by betty friedan, published in 1963, is often seen as the beginning of the womens liberation movement. Alvin toffler, author of future shock one of those rare books we are endowed with only once in several decades. Potter 1 rebecca potter gray section 4975 12 may 2015 primary source analysis on the feminine mystique the feminine mystique is the title of a book written by betty friedan who has also founded the national organization for women now to help us women gain equal rights. Feminists of the 1960s and 1970s would later say the feminine mystique was the book that started it all. The feminine mystique project gutenberg selfpublishing.
This is the book that defined the problem that has no name, that launched the second wave of the feminist movement, and. Interviews with betty friedan, edited by janann sherman. The feminine mystique by betty friedan page 3 of 45. The feminine mystique by betty friedan, 9781423395645, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. The feminine mystique is the classic book that sparked a national discussion on womens roles and the problem that has no name in the 1960s. For a private showing in the gallery, call pat at 52098801. This 50thanniversary edition features an afterword by bestselling author anna quindlen as well as a new introduction by gail collins. In hindsight, its difficult to gauge the full impact of certain books. The feminine mystique to take a job in a realestate office. Friedans controversial book about these women and every woman would ultimately set second wave feminism in motion and begin the battle for equality. This murky smog is the final smut, the last dirty word in the story of the mystique. Betty friedan wrote the feminine mystique to illuminate the plight of american women during the midnineteenth century through interviews with american housewives.
The feminine mystique 50th anniversary edition by betty friedan. This is the book that defined the problem that has no name, that launched the second wave of the feminist movement, and has been awakening women and men with. Four decades later, millions of individual transformations later, there is still so much to learn from this book. The feminine mystique forever changed the conversation as well as the way women view themselves. Norton in 1957, friedan was asked to conduct a survey of her former smith college classmates for their 15th anniversary reunion. First published in 1963, the feminine mystique ignited a revolution that profoundly changed our culture, our conciousness, and our lives. Since its first publication in 1963, millions of people have read the feminine. The feminine mystique is a very specific cry of rage about the way intelligent, welleducated women were kept out of the. The problem was the feminine mystique, which was also the title of her groundbreaking book, published 50 years ago. Why the feminine mystique is still worth reading in 20. This is the book that defined the problem that has no name, that launched the second wave of the feminist movement, and has been awakening women and men with its insights. But it showed that with all the education, american women.
Published in 1963, it gave a pitchperfect description of the problem that has no name. The feminine mystique is the false notion that a womans role in society is to be a wife, mother, and housewife nothing else. Using a practice that becomes common throughout the book, friedan offers several case studies of unhappy women from around the united states, and she wonders whether this unhappiness is related to the female. The feminine mystique has been credited or blamed for destroying, singlehandedly and almost overnight, the 1950s consensus that womens place was in the home. Landmark, groundbreaking, classicthese adjectives barely describe the earthshaking and longlasting effects of betty friedans the feminine mystique.
The questionnaire was quite interesting, and it raised more questions than it answered. 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. This study guide consists of approximately 102 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the feminine mystique. The feminine mystique by friedan, first edition abebooks. The feminine mystique by betty friedan, 9780141192055, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. And so, based on these findings, freidan studied these women more, interviewed them more, and wrote the feminine mystique, in which she published her theories. Victims of a false belief system, these women were following strict social convention by loyally conforming to the pretty image of the magazines, and found themselves forced to seek meaning in their lives only through.
The feminine mystique 50th anniversary edition kindle. Jan 27, 20 in a strange way, all those deficits are the book s strength. When betty friedan produced the feminine mystique in 1963, she could not have realized how the discovery and debate of her contemporaries general malaise would shake up society. Stephanie coontz teaches at the evergreen state college in olympia, washington, and serves as the director of research and public education at the council on contemporary families, a nonprofit, nonpartisan association of family researchers and practitioners based at the university of miami. The feminine mystique 50th anniversary edition ebook. Discussion of themes and motifs in betty friedans the feminine mystique. Friedan also cites world war ii as the main impetus for the development of the feminine mystique. May 30, 2016 betty friedan, the godmother of the postwar us womens movement, was an accidental feminist. Primary source analysis on the feminine mystique essay. Mar 01, 2010 the book that changed the consciousness of a countryand the world. We will all get through this hard time and be stronger for it. Friedans findings provided a cleareyed analysis of the issues that affected womens lives in the decades after the second world war, and became the basis to her book, the feminine mystique. Feb 07, 2006 every wifes silent question is this all.
The feminine mystique half a century later brain pickings. Male homosexuality as the endpoint of the feminine mystique is not just artificial, a regrettable but accidental distortion of the reality it overlays. The feminine mystique by betty friedan vulpes libris. The feminine mystique 1963 bestselling book by feminist thinker betty friedan. For insightful readings of friedans book, see donald meyer, betty friedan, in portraits ofamerican women. 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. Daniel horowitz further complicated the book s legacy with his 1998 book betty friedan and the making of the feminine mystique. Extract from friedans the feminine mystique tue 7 feb 2006 06. Every writer yearns to create a book that will seize the moment to perfectly encapsulate the problem of an era before other people even notice the problem exists. 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. Book depository books with free delivery worldwide. Landmark, groundbreaking, classicthese adjectives barely do justice to the pioneering vision and lasting impact of the feminine mystique. The feminine mystique 50th anniversary edition kindle edition by friedan, betty, collins, gail, quindlen, anna, collins, gail, quindlen, anna.
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