In the words of Betty Friedan; Woman

January 5, 2010

Betty Friedan was a leading activist of the Second wave feminist in the 1960’s. In 1963, Friedan
published a book entitled The Feminine Mystique, which attracted great interest from women in the era
who also advocated women’s rights. This article does not cover this important work in its entirety, but
rather focuses on a section in the beginning of the book called “The Problem that Has No Name.”

Friedan begins by describing women in the 1960’s. With the passage of the 19th Amendment in
the 1920’s, women had the right to vote and also had a greater opportunity to pursue higher education.
However, in spite of their increase in rights outside of the home, Friedan describes how women were
still oppressed in their own homes. Even with a college degree, women of her time were not encouraged
to pursue career aspirations of their own. Society voiced to women of that generation that it was the
most fulfilling aspect of life to get married, have children, and care for a family and household of their
own. As a result, many educated women failed to form career goals; marrying in their mid twenties and
dedicating all of their time to being a housewife. All of these women mirrored society’s expectations and
the media’s projection of them.

After receiving their education, whether it is primary school or graduate school, women prior to
Friedan’s time commonly married, started families and became housewives. A huge majority of women
found that being a housewife was not the most fulfilling aspect of life, and that they would much rather
pursue their own independent aspirations rather than cater to the will of their families day after day.
With the conflict between what women want, which was to pursue their own careers and aspirations,
and what they were told to want, which was to get married, have children, and become a housewife,
many women began to develop psychological disorders, including anxiety, depression, and lethargy.
Mental health professionals were unable to explain the huge increase in these symptoms among
married women, but noticed a trend in the disturbances. Many of the women felt as though they were
neurotic for thinking about pursuing their aspirations aside from their children or husbands and had no
idea that there were other women out there that felt the same way.

According to Friedan, this common thought was said to be a result of women’s rather recently
acquired rights. They argued that because women were already so stressed out with all of the burdens
and demands of running a household that the additional demands of being politically enlightened and
academically educated was too much pressure for them to bear. As a result of all of this pressure,
women were developing these psychological symptoms. A proposed cure was to revoke these rights
from women so that they would not have to worry about the added responsibility of their newly
acquired civic duty.

In light of the ignorant propositions made by oppressors of women, there many better
alternatives to this solution. Women should be treated as equals to men. Both of the sexes should have
the same demands on them and they should work together to achieve the same goals. Men and women
should both be encouraged to follow their dreams and aspirations and to be encouraged to pursue lives
that they enjoy and have pride in. Perhaps with time, such ignorant thinking in regards to the treatment
of women will change.

References
Friedan, B. (1963). “The Problem that Has No Name” in The Feminine Mystique, pages 11-27.
Images

Title: Betty Friedan, Women’s Rights Advocate

Description: An image of Betty Friedan, Women’s Rights Advocate and author of the book, The Feminine
Mystique (1963).
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Title: The Feminine Mystique

Description: Cover of The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan.
Tags: The Feminine Mystique, Betty Friedan