The publication of betty friedans the feminine mystique, on february 17, 1963, is often cited as the founding moment of secondwave feminism. 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. Among the many truisms in the book, that one leaps out at me most. A book is one of the important ways to get more knowledge and reference. The feminine mystique, by betty friedan, ushered in a second wave of feminist thought and progress in the united states.
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. Pdf the feminine mystique book by betty friedan free. This 50thanniversary edition features an afterword by bestselling author anna quindlen as well as a new introduction by gail collins. In the fifteen years after world war ii, this mystique of fem. Feb 10, 20 the problem was the feminine mystique, which was also the title of her groundbreaking book, published 50 years ago.
The feminine mystique, reassessed after 50 years the new. 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. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 592 pages and is available in paperback format. The feminine mystique, by betty friedan, was one of the most important and influential texts of feminism in the 1960s. It seems that everywhere i turn, theres some hotbutton oped that can be connected to the feminine mystique.
Despite focusing on the seemingly small problems of middle class white women, the legacy of the book has paved the way for more universal movements. 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. The feminine mystique 50th anniversary edition betty. She describes the feminine mystique as the heightened awareness of the expectations of women and how each woman has to fit a certain role as a. Apr 10, 2010 the feminine mystique by betty friedan this persuasive argument against the cult of the 1950s housewife was an important motor for secondwave feminism hermione hoby. Published in 1963, it gave a pitchperfect description of the problem that has no name. The mystique is an artificial idea of femininity that says having a career andor fulfilling ones individual potential somehow go against womens preordained role. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. A 50thanniversary edition of the trailblazing book that changed womens lives, with a new introduction by gail collins. The feminine mystique now feels both revolutionary and utterly contemporary. Unlike friends who went to womens colleges, i went to a coed campus and.
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, 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 feminine mystique, is considered partially responsible for ushering in second wave feminism, or a feminist movements which began midcentury and included a broad range of issues such as. 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.
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 into social. Feminists of the 1960s and 1970s would later say the feminine mystique was the book that started it all. One of those rare books we are endowed with only once in several decades. Free download or read online the feminine mystique pdf epub book. The feminine mystique, more than onethird of all women were in the. The feminine mystique is a book by betty friedan that is widely credited with sparking the beginning of secondwave feminism in the united states. Landmark, groundbreaking, classicthese adjectives barely describe the earthshaking and longlasting effects of betty friedans the feminine mystique. In truth, the feminine mystique s 50year shelf life got off to a somewhat rocky start. 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. Daniel horowitz further complicated the book s legacy with his 1998 book betty friedan and the making of the feminine mystique. Publication of the feminine mystique by betty friedan. When the feminine mystique was first published in 1963, it exploded into american consciousness. The main characters of this feminism, non fiction story are. Now is the time for all good women to pay homage to betty friedan, who 50 years ago wrote the gamechanging manifesto the feminine mystique.
Part social chronicle, part manifesto, the feminine mystique is filled with fascinating anecdotes and interviews as well as insights that continue to inspire. Feb 19, 20 the feminine mystique tends to be hailed simply as the book that started secondwave feminism, said lisa m. The feminine mystique is the title of a book written by betty friedan who also founded the national organization for women now to help us women gain equal rights. This book is available in this website with simple word. If, then, there is still a feminist fight to be fought it is for the right to work. Feb 20, 20 the guardian s popup book club discussion of the feminine mystique starts wednesday at 3pm and will last for half an hour for our first chat, well be focusing on the first 100 pages. Most critics were polarized in their views of the book. While many book critics immediately recognized the potential in friedans book when it was released in 1963. The feminine mystique is the false notion that a womans role in society is to be a wife, mother, and housewife nothing else. Het misverstand vrouw oorspronkelijk the feminine mystique is een. Apr 25, 20 i feel like ive written a lot about, or in connection to, the feminine mystique over at my other blog, a homebody, because of all the feminism issues. The feminine mystique is a very specific cry of rage about the way intelligent, welleducated women were kept out of the. Four decades later, millions of individual transformations later, there is still so much to learn from this book. Stephanie coontzs useful revisiting of friedans book, a strange stirring.
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. Today, developing the online book becomes very increasingly. It is the most famous of betty friedans works, and it made her a household name. In the feminine mystique, betty friedan put a spotlight on the hidden, yet. The feminine mystique project gutenberg selfpublishing. The book also includes a section on the scholarship on the feminine mystique, with excerpts from scholars such as daniel horowitz, joanne meyerowitz, ruth. In the feminine mystique, friedan tried to portray herself as the. Her work propelled the stagnant womens rights movement into its second wave and helped women reclaim some equality. 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. The book explores the desire of many women in america in the 1950s and 1960s to become housewives and mothers rather than pursuing careers of their own. Hundreds of women wrote to her to say that the book had transformed, even saved, their lives. In a strange stirring, her book about the feminine mystique and its. One of the great online books is the book entitled the feminine mystique by betty friedan.
This is, i believe, the most telling sign of the books continued relevance. The book highlighted friedans view of a coercive and pervasive postworld war ii ideology of female domesticity that stifled middleclass womens opportunities to be anything but homemakers. The feminine mystique 50th anniversary edition ebook by. Landmark, groundbreaking, classic these adjectives barely describe the earthshaking and longlasting effects of betty friedans the feminine mystique. Landmark, groundbreaking, classicthese adjectives barely do justice to the pioneering vision and lasting impact of the feminine mystique. In the most immoderate passage of her seminal 1963 book, she writes. 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. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. This is the book that defined the problem that has no name, that launched the second wave of the feminist movement, and.
Mar 04, 2010 buy the feminine mystique penguin modern classics 01 by friedan, betty isbn. Betty friedans feminine mystique 50 years later the new york. Fine, a historian at michigan state university and a coeditor of the first. In it, he exposed a startling, weirdly littleknown truth about its. When friedan discovered that many of her former classmates were unhappy with their lives as women in society she pitched an article based on.
The feminine mystique and american women at the dawn of the 1960s basic. Since its first publication in 1963, millions of people have read the feminine. Betty friedan described the feminine mystique in her 1963 bestseller. Published in 1963, it gave a pitchperfect description of the problem that has. The feminine mystique by friedan, first edition abebooks. In 1957, friedan was asked to conduct a survey of her former smith college classmates for their 15th anniversary reunion. Free ebook the feminine mystique by betty friedan puqtsil. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. A sensation on publication selling over 3 million copies, it established friedan as one of the chief architects of the womens liberation movement. The feminine mystique by betty friedan, hardcover barnes. Feminist theorist bell hooks took betty friedans book to task for its. Barkerbenfield and catherine clinton new york, 1991, 599615. In het boek beschrijft en analyseert friedan het onbehagen van amerikaanse vrouwen.
Us history chapter 30 betty friedan the feminine mystique. The book that changed the consciousness of a countryand the world. It was and is important because it helped encourage so many women, during that. In the book, friedan defines womens unhappiness as the problem that has no name, then she launches. Jan 14, 2019 the feminine mystique by betty friedan, published in 1963, is often seen as the beginning of the womens liberation movement. Mar 01, 2010 the book that changed the consciousness of a countryand the world. The feminine mystique betty friedan, kirsten fermaglich, lisa. The feminine mystique is a 1963 book by betty friedan which is widely credited with sparking the beginning of secondwave feminism in the united states. Defining this concept in her book is thought to have started 1960s feminism. Afroamerikaanse vrouwen komen in the feminine mystique zo goed als niet. In 1963, betty friedan unleashed a storm of controversy with her bestselling book, the feminine mystique. Jan 27, 20 in a strange way, all those deficits are the books strength. Betty friedan is to women what martin luther king, jr. The feminine mystique, a landmark book by feminist betty friedan published in 1963.