A Macat Analysis of The Feminine Mystique

In 1963's The Feminine Mystique, Betty Friedan challenged the vision 1950s America had of itself as a nation of happy housewives and contented families. After World War II, society had fostered the idea that women wanted to run a home and live through the achievements of a husband and children. But in reality, Friedan argued, rigid gender roles left housewives frustrated and depressed and caused tensions both in their marriages and parenting. Friedan's answer was to allow women equal opportunities to learn, work, and grow, so all people could enjoy better relationships. Her ideas helped reignite the US feminist movement in the 1960s, leading to both legal and social change.