The second wave in western feminism is the name given to the period of. Second wave feminism refers to the period of feminist activity that focused on social and legal issues of gender equality such as sexuality, family, the workplace, reproductive rights and equal opportunity in education and the workplace. This persuasive argument against the cult of the 1950s housewife was an important motor for secondwave feminism, writes hermione hoby. Louis menand on betty friedan, the feminine mystique, and the power of the books that defined the early years of the womens movement. The second wave is associated with the publication of books like betty friedans the feminine mystique and germaine greers the female eunuch, with consciousnessraising groups, campaigning around wages for housework, abortion rights, sexual harassment, domestic violence, childcare and many other issues and with the slogan the personal. List of books and articles about betty friedan online. 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. The second wave of feminism is said to have been born in 1963 with the publication of the feminine mystique by betty friedan. In 1982, betty friedan published the second stage, which sought to help women wrestling with the demands of work and home. She served on the boards of leading womens organizations, fought for legislation to ensure. The feminine mystique, reassessed after 50 years the. It was a reaction to women returning to their roles as housewives and mothers after the end of the second world war. Landmark, groundbreaking, classicthese adjectives barely describe the earthshaking and longlasting effects of betty friedans the feminine mystique. A suburban housewife and sometime writer, she published the feminine mystique 1963, attacking the thenpopular notion that women could find fulfillment only as wives, childbearers, and.
Betty friedan and the making of the feminine mystique. See more ideas about feminine mystique, feminism and second wave feminism. Second wave feminism began in 1963, when betty friedan published the feminine mystiqueand called attention to the plight of collegeeducated homemakers who were unsatisfied in their dull. Thoughtco this movement was triggered by the publishing of betty friedans book, the feminine mystique, a renowned feminist text credited for daring to break social conventions regarding the portrayal of women. Secondwave feminism of the 1960s1980s focused on issues of equality and discrimination.
In 1966, friedan cofounded and was elected the first. Secondwave feminism refers to the period of feminist activity that focused on social and legal issues of gender equality such as sexuality, family, the workplace, reproductive rights and equal opportunity in education and the workplace. Secondwave feminism was a period of feminist activity and thought that began in the united states in the early 1960s and lasted roughly two decades. Second wave feminism rear vision abc radio national. Friedan and the feminine mystique by betty friedan 1210 words 5 pages. This text was considered groundbreaking and became a. Also in 1963, betty friedan s groundbreaking work the feminine mystique was published and is largely credited for sparking the second wave of feminism.
A lot of the interviews in the book really captured details about betty for instance what a mess her apartment was, her purse being a landfill of peoples phone numbers and notes to. Second wave feminism the second wave began in the 1960s and continued into the 1990s. Among her other accomplishments, friedan was the founder and first president of the national organization for women now. She was a bit scary, betty, very much a pioneer and an original. In the feminine mystique, betty friedan put a spotlight on the hidden, yet immense problems women faced during the 1950s.
Oct 12, 2018 friedan argued for modern feminism or what came to be called secondwave feminism. Apr 07, 2020 writer, feminist and womens rights activist betty friedan wrote the feminine mystique 1963 and cofounded the national organization for women. What phyllis schlafly owes feminism politico magazine. Ever since the 1963 publication of her landmark book, the feminine mystique, betty friedan has insisted that her commitment to womens rights grew out of her experiences as an alienated suburban housewife.
Biography of betty friedan, feminist, writer, activist. Sep, 2017 for the last two and a half years, ive been working on a book about betty friedan, the socalled mother of secondwave feminism, and i have been interviewing those who knew her. Betty friedans the feminine mystique, a book that helped reignite the womens movement in the united states, is celebrating its 55th year of publication in february 2018. This wave unfolded in the context of the antivietnam war and civil rights movements and the growing selfconsciousness of a variety of minority groups around the world.
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. February 4, 1921 february 4, 2006 was an american feminist writer and activist. 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. Friedan argued for modern feminism or what came to be called secondwave feminism. The best books on feminism recommended by fordham feminist historian kirsten swinth, author of feminisms forgotten fight. Friedan further contended that a woman could have a successful career as well as a family. Until i started writing the feminine mystique she confessed in 1973, i wasnt even. This text was considered groundbreaking and became a landmark in. The best books on feminism five books expert recommendations. 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. May 30, 2016 betty friedan, the godmother of the postwar us womens movement, was an accidental feminist. The feminine mystique by betty friedan, published in 1963, is often seen as the beginning of the womens liberation movement. The feminine mystique, by betty friedan, seen in 1980, is commonly hailed as the book that started secondwave feminism.
Betty friedan was a key player in second wave feminism. Second wave feminism was a period of feminist activity and thought that began in the united states in the early 1960s and lasted roughly two decades. Betty friedan and the birth of modern feminism the heritage. The first wave feminist movement started in the mid19th century and culminated with the womens suffrage movement. Norton in 1957, friedan was asked to conduct a survey of her former smith college classmates for their 15th anniversary reunion. She was founder of, and first president of the national organization for women now. That match would be her 1963 book the feminine mystique, which is often credited with sparking second wave feminism. Mar 01, 2010 betty friedan 19212006, a transformational leader of the womens movement, founded the national organization for women now and authored many works, including the second stage, the fountain of age, and life so far. This collection helped round out wallers portrayal of the woman whose groundbreaking book, the feminine mystique, helped ignite feminism s second wave. Betty friedans feminine mystique 50 years later the new york. The book that changed the consciousness of a countryand the world. The feminine mystique is a book by betty friedan that is widely credited with sparking the beginning of secondwave feminism in the united states. The second wave slogan, the personal is political, identified womens cultural and political inequalities as inextricably linked and encouraged women to understand how their personal lives reflected sexist power structures.
Friedans seminal expression of these new ideas redefined an issue central to many womens lives so successfully that it fuelled a movement the second wave feminism of the 1960s and 1970s that fundamentally challenged the legal and social framework underpinning an entire society. Mystique is sometimes credited with sparking the second wave of feminism. Writer, feminist and womens rights activist betty friedan wrote the feminine mystique 1963 and cofounded the national organization for women. Betty friedan, the godmother of the postwar us womens movement, was an accidental feminist. In 1957, friedan was asked to conduct a survey of her former smith college classmates for their 15th anniversary reunion.
Considered by many as the mother of the second wave of modern feminism, activist and writer betty friedan was one of the most influential feminist leaders of the second half of the twentieth century, a cofounder of the national organization for women now and its first president. Betty friedan book austin public library bibliocommons. Womens liberationists in the late 1960s were younger and more radical than activists like betty friedan, who founded the national organization for women. What role did betty friedans book, the feminine mystique. Betty friedans secondwave manifesto the feminine mystique was largely about identifying the problem that has no name. Until i started writing the feminine mystique she confessed in 1973, i. Friedans groundbreaking novel took an introspective look at the life of a woman in the 1950s. In 1957, friedan wrote a questionnaire for her former classmates at a reunion at the allfemale, smith college. Betty friedan second wave feminism 859 words bartleby. The results revealed that many women shared the same frustrations as her in their roles as housewives and mothers. Mar 21, 2019 the publication of betty friedans bestselling 1963 book the feminine mystique helped spur the second wave by illuminating womens largely concealed dissatisfaction with the drudgery and isolation of full time housework, child care, shopping, etc. The feminine mystique project gutenberg selfpublishing. The feminine mystique was one of many catalysts for the secondwave feminist movement 1960s80s. Womens widespread dissatisfaction with leading mostly domestic.
The secondwave slogan, the personal is political, identified womens cultural and political inequalities as inextricably linked and encouraged women to understand how their personal lives reflected sexist power structures. In 1963, her book the feminine mystique criticized the. It is the most famous of betty friedans works, and it made her a household name. Second wave feminism literary theory and criticism. Betty friedan and secondwave feminism in the us history engine. She coined the term feminine mystique to describe the societal assumption that women could find fulfillment through housework, marriage, sexual passivity. Jan 14, 2019 the feminine mystique by betty friedan, published in 1963, is often seen as the beginning of the womens liberation movement. Friedans groundbreaking novel took an introspective look. She had her differences with later waves of feminists too. I realized that the record on second wave feminisms. The feminine mystique is a book by betty friedan that is widely credited with sparking the beginning of second wave feminism in the united states. Feminism has been described as having three separate waves. The feminine mystique, reassessed after 50 years the new. Betty friedan february 4, 1921february 4, 2006 was an author and activist whose seminal 1963 book the feminine mystique is credited with helping spark the modern feminist movement in the united states.
The feminine mystique, by betty friedan 1639 words. Top ten most influential feminist books infoplease. Betty friedan and the birth of modern feminism the. Feminists of the 1960s and 1970s would later say the feminine mystique was the book that started it all. Betty friedan was a pivotal figure in the second wave womens movement of the 1960s and 70s. Betty friedan was an american feminist, activist and writer, best known for starting what is commonly known as the second wave of feminism through the writing. Older, first wave feminists argued for the extension of basic rights to women, such as the right to own. Secondwave activists, who also included betty friedan, sought to advance the concept of womens rights beyond voting and other legal privileges to include workplace equality, marital equality and. The feminine mystique, by betty friedan 1639 words bartleby. On february 19, 1963, betty friedan started the second wave feminism movement with her book the feminine mystique. What role did betty friedans book, the feminine mystique, play in the development of secondwave feminism. Betty friedan 19212006 is hailed by historians as a seminal figure in the second wave of the womens feminist movement.
Her work propelled the stagnant womens rights movement into its second wave and helped women reclaim some equality. First wave feminism by betty friedan 1171 words 5 pages. Friedan argued for modern feminism or what came to be called second wave feminism. Anna quindlen is an awardwinning columnist and novelist. Her struggles against the feminine mystique and in favor of gender equality led to a fundamental transformation, not only in the way american society views women, but in the way. Feb 19, 20 the feminine mystique, by betty friedan, seen in 1980, is commonly hailed as the book that started secondwave feminism. Kate millett, high priestess of secondwave feminism. The handmaids tale, feminism, and the dangers of religion. Betty friedan19212006 is hailed by historians as a seminal figure in the second wave of the womens feminist movement.
Today, feminism is an ideologytheory that most people fail to understand fully. It quickly spread across the western world, with an aim to increase equality for women by gaining more than just enfranchisement whereas firstwave feminism focused mainly on suffrage and overturning legal obstacles to. Also in 1963, betty friedans groundbreaking work the feminine mystique was published and is largely credited for sparking the second wave of feminism. Betty friedan, author of the feminine mystique and feminist thinker.
It seemed to be a more moderate feminist position than her earlier work. Betty friedan, shown in 1970, is credited with starting secondwave feminism with her book. In 1963, her book the feminine mystique criticized the idea that women could find. It quickly spread across the western world, with an aim to increase equality for women by gaining more than just enfranchisement. Betty friedan 19212006 was an american writer, activist, and feminist, who became one of the leading figures of the feminist movement with the publication of her 1963 book the feminine mystique. A nonfiction book published in 1963, the feminine mystique sparked the second wave. Apr 10, 2010 the feminine mystique by betty friedan this persuasive argument against the cult of the 1950s housewife was an important motor for second wave feminism hermione hoby. Pdf download the feminine mystique free unquote books. Betty friedan was an american feminist, activist and writer, best known for starting what is commonly known as the second wave of feminism through the writing of her book the feminine mystique.
Part of the history of british womens writing book series hbww. Leading figure in second wave of us womens movement, her 1963 book fem. Betty friedan s the feminine mystique, a book that helped reignite the womens movement in the united states, is celebrating its 55th year of publication in february 2018. Friedans groundbreaking work was crucial in launching secondwave feminism, the movement that tore through the 1960s and revolutionized the way women were treated in the workforce, in public. Betty friedan biography childhood, life achievements. Read the first part here a brief summary of the first wave of feminism the second wave of feminism is usually demarcated from the 1960s to the late 1980s. This is the book that defined the problem that has no name, that launched the second wave of the feminist movement, and has been. Jul 26, 2019 betty friedan, a key second wave american feminist, was the author of the groundbreaking book often credited with restarting feminism. Betty friedan had written just several years earlier a book called the feminine mystique and she was a little bit famous for that. Friedans groundbreaking work was crucial in launching secondwave feminism, the movement that tore through the 1960s and revolutionized the way women were treated in. Thoughtco this movement was triggered by the publishing of betty friedan s book, the feminine mystique, a renowned feminist text credited for daring to break social conventions regarding the portrayal of women. Born bettye naomi goldstein, feminist revolutionary betty friedan 19212006 was considered by many to be the mother of the second wave of modern feminism. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the. A leading voice of womens rights movement, betty friedan was a phenomenal woman, often credited with starting the second wave of feminism in the united states, in the 20th century.
Education, in her estimation, had less to do with reinforcing the feminine mystique than with the outright emancipation of women. In 1963, writer and feminist betty friedan published the feminine mystique, a nonfiction book in which she contested the postworld war ii belief that it was. The feminine mystique by betty friedan published in 1963. Heres a list of books that have had a lasting impact on feminism and the womens movement.
For her book, friedan researched psychology, media, and advertising. Oct, 20 betty friedan had written just several years earlier a book called the feminine mystique and she was a little bit famous for that. The publication of betty friedans bestselling 1963 book the feminine mystique helped spur the second wave by illuminating womens largely concealed dissatisfaction with the drudgery and isolation of full time housework, child care, shopping, etc. A nonfiction book published in 1963, the feminine mystique sparked the secondwave. She also interviewed several suburban housewives during the 1950s and early 1960s. For the last two and a half years, ive been working on a book about betty friedan, the socalled mother of secondwave feminism, and i have been interviewing those who knew her. Beauvoir researched and wrote the book in about 14 months between 1946 and 1949.
1049 182 792 184 1153 713 554 843 1261 1477 1280 234 822 262 160 596 55 1420 533 1284 1150 543 1026 1061 250 1030 270 449 1113 1148 492 1546 189 559 1139 1134 1144 731 763 784 655 930 1374