Comparing 1960 's And 1970 's Feminist Movement

Finkelstein notes that the 1963 publication of Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique unofficially began a re-evaluation of gender roles in the United States (Finkelstein 55). Friedan explores the idea that women need more fulfillment in their lives than can be provided by the drudgery of childrearing and housekeeping. The

In her Feminine Mystique essay, “The Importance of Work”, writer Betty Friedan talks about how the identity crisis of American women beginning about a century ago. More and more of the work that was used by human abilities in which they could find self-realization that was taken from women. The identity crisis for women did not begin in America until the fire, strength, and ability of the pioneer women were no longer needed. Women today whom feel that they have no goal, purpose, or future will commit suicide. Betty Friedan attempts to explain the causes of women’s unhappiness as she tags it, “the problem that has no name”. (Friedan, pg.790, 1963) Friedan’s rhetoric in the essay is constructed and based upon three persuasive techniques, which are known as ethos, pathos, and logos. In her essay, her main goal was to bring about how successful her approach in determining the role of women in society. She did an excellent job at defending her argument with facts from history to back it up.

Simone de Beauvoir is one of the founders of second wave feminism. Her book titled The Second Sex, published in 1949 is often referred to as one of the critical texts of the movement. The second wave of feminism began in the 1960s and continued until the third wave of feminism which began in the 1990s. While the first wave of feminism was concerned with women’s suffrage and opportunities for women, the second wave of feminism was more concerned with sexuality and reproductive rights. De Beauvoir believes that it is through the meeting of multiple consciousness that make women subordinate in any given patriarchal society. Through her idea of the meeting of the two, binary constricted consciousnesses, a coherent argument is made on how oppression functioned during the second wave of feminism and how it continues to function in today’s society. Her book also demonstrates the ways in which second wave feminism fails in today’s society, and why third wave feminism is necessary

During 1963, Betty Friedan published The Feminine Mystique. This book influenced an enormous amount of women all over the country and became motivation for women to strive for change. The book explains that women, particularly in the middle class, were not content with the role of a housewive, which was pressured and assumed by society. Betty Friedan was also a devoted member of NOW and her novel became a bestseller and absolutely changed the women’s rights movement. (Sink, 1).

The Feminine Mystique is a first person narrative about the struggles of feminism. It highlights the problems of women in the 1950s to the 1960s and challenges gender roles. The book includes several first person interviews and discusses the Second Wave of feminism. It introduces the idea of the sexulization of women being used in consumerism and the lack of sexual education in school during the time. The Feminine Mystique is a useful resource because it is considered the groundbreaking book about feminism and lists issues that women have had to deal with from the 1960s until now. The book could be used to argue the struggles that women have faced and continue to face.

women were seen as inferiors to men. They were expected to be stay-at-home housewives and not bother working at jobs. Many women during the 60s, however, wanted to be independent from their husbands. In Betty Friedan’s “The Feminine Mystique” she urged women to “establish professional lives of their own”. Organizations such as the National Organization for Women helped women find their ground in gaining the treatment of equality they surely needed.

White women, considered the “pure” race during this period, were expected to follow one specific path: get married in their early 20s, immediately start a family and have kids, and devote their whole lives to serve their husbands and kids. The American Feminist Movement started in 1962 when Betty Friedan wrote The Feminine Mystique , a book that captured the frustration of a generation of college educated housewives, mostly white middle class women in that time period, who felt trapped. In this book, Friedan describes women’s unhappiness as “the problem with no name” . Middle class educated women felt depressed because they ignored the necessity to pursue their goals, misled into thinking that serving their families was the highest and only aspiration they should have. The movement focused originally on eliminating inequality in the workplace and giving equal opportunities to both sexes.

In the book The Feminine Mystique, Betty Friedan brings attention to what she calls the feminine mystique, or “the problem that has no name”. Through the use of anecdotal narratives, her own personal experiences as a journalist, editor, mother, and the interviews of many women from different backgrounds in order to unveil the truth about the women of the 1950’s. The problem which sparked the second wave of feminism in the United States is one that focuses on the inequality between men and women and the undervaluing of women in both the social and private spheres. The women of the time gave up pursuing their passions, such as getting an education or careers in science or business in order to fit the image of the stereotypical stay-at-home mom whose main goal in life is to raise her children while providing a safe and comforting home for her husband. The Feminine Mystique, as she called it, was the idea of widespread unhappiness of women, despite the preconceived notion that women were happiest when they have a family. Throughout her work, she dives into many of the problems associated with the feminine mystique and builds a powerful concept of what would eventually be labeled feminism.

During the waves of feminism many influential and significant movements that depicted the representation of women in a patronizing way. Whether it began in the 1970’s or the 1990’s these decades both held its own on the matters of oppression and the exploitation of women. Rape culture as well as women’s clothing options were twisted into making these decades some of the most influential for women of all times. From the way women were dressed, to celebrities standing out, rape culture, or movements for women, controversy was created throughout these decades to put a dent in women’s history and truly impact women’s lives.

In accordance to Betty Freidan, the 1950’s suburban housewife was “the dream image of the young American woman” ; it was the ultimate feminine fulfillment . Friedan exposes in her book, The Feminine Mystique that women were dissatisfied with their primary role of housewife, a phenomenon present throughout Western societies that Freidan identified as “the problem that has no name.” Today across contemporary Western societies, many women have the choice to enter the workforce, however the common notion that a woman’s predominant role as a housewife is still prevalent. This adds complexities to women’s lives as they attempt to juggle the double burden of paid and unpaid work, a barrier that reinforces women’s subordinate role in society and in many cases prevents women from obtaining

In 1920, the Ratification of the 19th Amendment granted suffrage for women. Societal roles were restrained for men and women, which women were stereotyped as housewives. However, things have started to change rapidly in the late 40s to early 50s, the conservative movement affirmed that women were capable of acquiring same jobs as men. Statistics have shown that marrital rate and education for women are negatively correlated. Betty Friedan projected their voices by publishing The Feminine Mystique, allowing women to be self-aware. Without sense of existence or happiness, women suffered from the emptiness and dare not to think about what instigated their passion for equality. Friedan’s initial intent of writing her book liberated women from

The feminist movement of the 1960’s was generally revolved around the idea that women should not be treated with inequality in the workplace and also should be allowed to work in better jobs with higher paying salary. Howard Smith a representative of Virginia instated a proposal that will dismantle any gender discrimination, however; the congressmen did not appeal but by the help of Martha Griffiths the enactment of this proposal was passed. Soon feminists, who involved Betty Friedan, made a decision to establish a movement which its intentions were to strive and demolish gender discrimination. They did not want to overthrow the existing bureaucracy but instead proclaimed that women should be involved. They utilized ways in which helped them

Gender movements of 1960 encompassed more than the rights of women. The most common phrase that was used at that time was "personal is political". This phrase was widely used by social movements of that time including the Women Liberation Movement. The input of women in social movements like Civil Rights Movement, the movement against the War in Vietnam, and myriad student movements was enormous despite the fact that they were not trusted with leadership positions. At formative stages, these movements called for more student rights and decision making power in college. They also agitated for end of Vietnam War, a war that was unpopular with many Americans. They also wanted the black population to be allowed to vote. These movements other than being thought of as fighting for personal issues also fought for political emancipation as they also clamored for social justice in the society (Mandle, n.d.).

The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan is related to the second wave of feminism. Betty Friedan wrote about “The Problem that has no Name.” Throughout the next few pages the analysis will be on The Feminine Mystique with particular attention on “The Problem that has no Name.” In the 1960s it was uncommon for the women of the time to hold a job and raise a family. Betty Friedan worked until she was pregnant, which she was fired for, and then continued to write freelance for journals and newspapers after she had her children. She wanted to have a job and raise a family. She wanted the best of both worlds. The other part of Betty Friedan that is remarkably admirable is her view on beauty standards. She was not all that pleased that women and men had to look a certain way. How has “The Problem that has no Name” and The Feminine Mystique changed the outlook on women’s problems, how has society dealt with these problems, and how women were able to write about such problems that women face? These are the main concerns that will be addressed throughout the next few pages. By looking at the book and Betty Friedan’s life, but, also looking at other sources from the 1960s we can see how life was for women both on the home-front and the outside world.

The feminist’s movement in the 1970’s not only broke down barriers for women’s rights in salary inequity and anti-discrimination laws, it opened the door for dialogues on women as artist and feminist art education. I have written a reading response to Renee Sandell’s original 1979 article, Feminist Art Education: An Analysis of the Women Art’s Movement As an Educational Force and its introduction by Sandra Packard, in the current collection from Looking Back: Editor’s Selection from 50 Years of Studies in Art Education. In my analysis of both readings I will describe how women’s art movement became important to art education and to women as artist. In addition, I will identify both writers’ theoretical focus and the foundation their theory