“The Feminine Mystique” by Betty Friedan is a landmark feminist book published in 1963.

  • Friedan argues that women in the mid-twentieth century were dissatisfied with the limited roles and expectations imposed upon them by society, which she calls “the feminine mystique.”
  • The book documents the experiences of women who had received higher education and were expected to find fulfillment solely through domestic duties and motherhood.
  • Friedan contends that this cultural pressure on women to conform to traditional gender roles and to be “happy homemakers” led to widespread unhappiness and a sense of purposelessness.
  • She calls for women to have equal access to education, career opportunities, and political power, and to be able to make choices about their lives beyond the confines of the home.
  • The book was influential in sparking the second wave of feminism and mobilizing women’s activism in the United States.
  • Friedan’s critiques of the media and advertising as perpetuating sexist stereotypes and unrealistic expectations for women still resonate with contemporary feminist movements.
  • The book remains an important feminist text, highlighting the ongoing struggles for gender equality and the need to challenge societal expectations of gender roles.