IB History Feminist Movements Notes

The Feminine Mystique (1963)

Background and Causes

• After World War II, many women in the United States were encouraged to return to domestic life, while men resumed public and professional roles.
• The 1950s idealized the suburban housewife, promoting the idea that a woman’s fulfillment came from marriage, motherhood, and home care.
• Despite material comfort, many educated women felt unfulfilled and isolated, struggling with what author Betty Friedan called “the problem that has no name.”
• Friedan, a journalist and college graduate, surveyed her classmates from Smith College and found widespread dissatisfaction among women who had given up careers for family life.

Publication and Main Ideas

• Published in 1963, The Feminine Mystique challenged the belief that women were naturally satisfied by domestic life.
• Friedan argued that society, education, and the media had trapped women in a cycle of dependence and passivity, discouraging ambition and individuality.
• She called for greater access to education, careers, and personal growth, arguing that women must define themselves beyond their husbands and children.
• The book became a bestseller and sparked public debate, inspiring thousands of women to question traditional gender roles and pursue equality.

Impact and Legacy

• The Feminine Mystique helped launch second-wave feminism, which focused on workplace equality, reproductive rights, and social liberation.
• In 1966, Friedan co-founded the National Organization for Women (NOW) to push for legal and political reforms such as equal pay and childcare access.
• The book led to policy discussions on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (1964), which banned gender discrimination in employment.
• Critics noted that Friedan’s focus was largely on white, middle-class women, but the book still opened the door for later, more inclusive feminist movements.