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Feminism ... began with the work of a single person: Friedan (Nicholas Lemann )
Product Description
When Betty Friedan produced The Feminine Mystique in 1963, she could not have realized how the discovery and debate of her contemporaries' general malaise would shake up society. Victims of a false belief system, these women were following strict social convention by loyally conforming to the pretty image of the magazines, and found themselves forced to seek meaning in their lives only through a family and a home. Friedan's controversial book about these women - and every woman - would ultimately set Second Wave feminism in motion and begin the battle for equality.
This groundbreaking and life-changing work remains just as powerful, important and true as it was forty-five years ago, and is essential reading both as a historical document and as a study of women living in a man's world.
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I first read `The Feminine Mystique' back in the 1970s when it was very popular and on re-reading it found it just as relevant now. 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. One of the main reasons for this trend could well have been a general reaction to the end of World War II. Women who had worked to help the war effort were now returning home and the men who had been fighting wanted nothing more than to relax in the comfort of domesticity and a settled home life.
The book seeks to examine the effects the trend had on the mental and physical health of women confined to the home and living vicarious lives through their husbands and children. Many became pale shadows of their former selves and resorted to drink or affairs with anyone and everyone. Research carried out at the time showed that women had fewer mental health problems if they had some outlet or interest of their own which took them away from their domestic environment. Some were in such a poor state mentally that they ended up being treated for depression as well as many minor ailments which may or may not have been psychosomatic. Obstetricians noticed that women who had their own careers and interests outside the home had far fewer physical and mental problems with childbirth than did women who were housewives and mothers with no other interest.
The author suggests that it is extremely bad mentally and physically to live the whole of your life through and for others and cites compelling research to back up her thesis. These women in many cases ended up resenting their families for curtailing their prospects. She also shows how stay at home mothers appeared to be producing children who were unable to develop into mature adults because they had mothers who had always taken care of everything for them. Children need to develop independence from their mothers if they are to lead their own lives. Mothers whose whole life is invested in their husbands and children feel they are nothing and have no role in life once their children are grown. Some keep on having babies in order to have a child still at home and dependent on them.
The book is a powerful argument for every woman to have an interest which she is enthusiastic about outside her domestic life even if it is not practical for her to have a job. Even though this book was written about the situation in the USA in the 1950s and 1960s it is possible to see similarities in Britain and America today in the 21st century. We have the same glorification of domesticity and the constant stream of articles in the media about stay at home mothers being better for children and mothers with young children are branded selfish if they go out to work. There is also the same sexualisation of culture which was starting to take place then and has become even greater now. Making a home and bringing up children has been elevated to an art form instead of being seen as work which has to be done but does not need to be carried out to such a high standard. This is how it was when Friedan was writing. As she pointed out, most household tasks could be carried out by a child of eight and yet adult women - often educated to university standard - are expected to find total personal fulfilment in such work.
This is well written book which repays careful study.
The book seeks to examine the effects the trend had on the mental and physical health of women confined to the home and living vicarious lives through their husbands and children. Many became pale shadows of their former selves and resorted to drink or affairs with anyone and everyone. Research carried out at the time showed that women had fewer mental health problems if they had some outlet or interest of their own which took them away from their domestic environment. Some were in such a poor state mentally that they ended up being treated for depression as well as many minor ailments which may or may not have been psychosomatic. Obstetricians noticed that women who had their own careers and interests outside the home had far fewer physical and mental problems with childbirth than did women who were housewives and mothers with no other interest.
The author suggests that it is extremely bad mentally and physically to live the whole of your life through and for others and cites compelling research to back up her thesis. These women in many cases ended up resenting their families for curtailing their prospects. She also shows how stay at home mothers appeared to be producing children who were unable to develop into mature adults because they had mothers who had always taken care of everything for them. Children need to develop independence from their mothers if they are to lead their own lives. Mothers whose whole life is invested in their husbands and children feel they are nothing and have no role in life once their children are grown. Some keep on having babies in order to have a child still at home and dependent on them.
The book is a powerful argument for every woman to have an interest which she is enthusiastic about outside her domestic life even if it is not practical for her to have a job. Even though this book was written about the situation in the USA in the 1950s and 1960s it is possible to see similarities in Britain and America today in the 21st century. We have the same glorification of domesticity and the constant stream of articles in the media about stay at home mothers being better for children and mothers with young children are branded selfish if they go out to work. There is also the same sexualisation of culture which was starting to take place then and has become even greater now. Making a home and bringing up children has been elevated to an art form instead of being seen as work which has to be done but does not need to be carried out to such a high standard. This is how it was when Friedan was writing. As she pointed out, most household tasks could be carried out by a child of eight and yet adult women - often educated to university standard - are expected to find total personal fulfilment in such work.
This is well written book which repays careful study.
23 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I read this for a class I did at uni on the American women's movement and it is utterly amazing. What is so astonishing - and if you're buying this for uni my lecturer gave me an A for this point - this is the first book that really trated men and women as equal. Friedan is the first person who ever really questioned the idea that women and men are so different and that their lives should be dictated by those differences. Friedan sees women and men as being equal in opportunity, and this is what makes this book so groundbreaking. She doesn't tell women to go out and live like men, or to give up 'womanly' things like children or marriage, but instead she is saying there is no 'natural' reason for that. Women and men can do exactly as each other can and create their own lives - unlike the prevailing thought that we still see today, that your gender defines what your life will be. This is so incredible to read I think anyone who geets the chance should.
18 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Sometimes you have to read a classic to fully understand why it had such an impact. This is one fantastic book, and I can appreciate why it moved millions to look at the relationship between the sexes more closely.
It is a testament to its many 'truths' that it still commands respect and attention 40 years on, and the many descriptions of how the 1950s/1960s left women feeling isolated and powerless, plus the many changes that show they have a path out of domesticity, are the things that I still value most about this text.
However, time has shown up some of the books faults. For me, the most glaring - and the one that reveals how a political view can incline a writer to fit data to a hypothesis, rather than the other way around, is the poor discussion of spending power and adverstising.
Friedan reports that 75% of money earned is spent by women, and tries to turn this on its head to claim that they are still 'victims' because advertisers pay so much attention to manipulating them. This is a bit like saying that if men had 3 votes to women's 1, that men would be 'victims' because politicians were more interesting in winning men's votes. Women have spending power in our society and this gives them not only a lot of economic power but collective control over much of the media (who must not offend women to retain adverstising revenues).
A brilliant book, but not faultless. For a similarly sympathetic book from men's perspective try to get your hands on a copy of "Why Men Are The Way They Are", by Warren Farrell.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A Welcome Return
Excellent seminal work, important to go back to the classics and take on board what has changed and more importantly what is still frustrating and unchanged.
Published 10 days ago by Charmian
slightly overzealous, poorly written, but some interesting ideas
First off I'll declare my bias, in that I'm a man; I believe I'm unusually feminist, however a man nonetheless. Read more
Published on 29 Aug 2008 by Talc Demon
Housewife phobia
I have avoided reading this book for many years, because I knew from what I'd heard about it that Betty Friedan had a low opinion of housewives, and as a housewife myself I didn't... Read more
Published on 13 Jun 2008 by L O'connor
Not as good as the 2nd Sex
An interesting read but compared to other feminist literature it involves quite a small group of people. Namely housewives living in the USA during the 1950's and 60's. Read more
Published on 24 May 2008 by Sally Wilton
Classic Feminist Text
An academic, thoroughly researched yet easy read. It seems a bit dated now, 43 years on, but a must-read for anyone interested in equality. Read more
Published on 10 Sep 2006 by A. Tatton
The Feminine Mystique
excellent book. I bought this to do an essay on gender for college. It realy made you think, a book you cant put down.
Published on 28 Mar 2003 by "parrymania"
a must read for all females and open minded men!
this book is just excellent, i actually read when i was doing a paper on the sixties and this book kept popping up in research sources so i thought it would be a good idea to read... Read more
Published on 8 Oct 2001
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