Betty Friedan's "The Feminine Mystique"

Definition

"The Feminine Mystique" is a book written by Betty Friedan in 1963 that is often credited with sparking the second wave of American feminism. In it, Friedan challenged the widely shared belief in 1950s America that "fulfillment as a woman had only one definition for American women after 1949 - the housewife-mother."

Analogy

Imagine you're playing a video game where everyone expects you to choose a specific character because of your gender. But you want to explore other characters and their abilities too. That's what Betty Friedan did with her book - she questioned why women were expected to stick to one role (housewife-mother) and encouraged them to explore other possibilities.

Related terms

Second Wave Feminism: A period of feminist activity during the early 1960s to late 1980s which focused on issues such as equality in the workplace, reproductive rights, and ending violence against women.

Gender Roles: Socially constructed roles that society considers appropriate for men and women.

Women's Liberation Movement: The social struggle aimed at equal rights and opportunities for women, closely linked with the feminist movement.