6.3c Betty Friedan

Question 1

Betty Friedan (1921-2006)

Answer 1

Betty Friedan was a second-wave American feminist. Her most famous work is “The Feminine Mystique”.

Question 2

Friedan: “The Feminine Mystique” (1963)

Answer 2

Friedan wrote about the “problem that has no name” - the problem of women limited in societal opportunities who had few options but to become wives and mothers.

Question 3

Friedan: Careers for women

Answer 3

Friedan argued that women were just as capable as men to have careers, but that society restricted women’s options.

So, the oppressive laws and social views that restricted women’s opportunities should be changed.

For example, in America in the early to mid 1900s ‘marriage bars’ were in place in many organisations, which were policies used by firms to fire women when they got married, and not hire married women.

Policies like this stopped women from having equality of opportunity.

Question 4

Friedan: Opportunities for women

Answer 4

Friedan’s work supported increased equality of opportunity for women, who were being held back from their potential by society.

Friedan argued for the rights of women to become self-fulfilled - supporting the liberal idea of self-determination and rationality.