pinecone_mushroom's review against another edition
4.0
I read the first half and the last chapter, and loved it.
jessmele's review against another edition
1.0
Since I genuinely had a visceral reaction to this in college, here are a few excerpts from a paper I wrote:
Betty Friedan’s legacy lives on as the rallying cry for white, straight, middle-class feminists. It is one that dismisses the struggles of women of color, lesbians, and poor women. Betty Friedan may have written a revolutionary book that played a role in the second wave feminist movement, but she did so from an entirely privileged perspective. Her longer lasting legacy is how she used language to persuade women, like her, to fight for themselves. Her language was used based off of the women that ran in her social circle, yet dismissed different identities of women. She was never writing for women of color, lesbians, or poor women. She was writing for the women like her.
Now, some people may say this is a product of its time, but Friedan had a history of discrimination, especially towards lesbian women. She even went as far as labeling lesbian feminists “the lavender menace” because she did not want to fight for lesbian rights. Up until a few years before she passed away, Friedan completely disregarded lesbian identities and believed marriage was only between a man and a woman.
Her lack of representation for women of different races, sexualities, and class statuses reflects on how language, although subtle, has meanings that far outweighs the surface level. The Feminine Mystique has not aged well, nor will it because of how little Friedan cared to include the struggles of people who are unlike her. Her privilege granted her that. Feminists today will not forget it—now or in the near future. Because “the problem that has no name” was one seeped in prejudice that Friedan herself perpetuated.
Betty Friedan’s legacy lives on as the rallying cry for white, straight, middle-class feminists. It is one that dismisses the struggles of women of color, lesbians, and poor women. Betty Friedan may have written a revolutionary book that played a role in the second wave feminist movement, but she did so from an entirely privileged perspective. Her longer lasting legacy is how she used language to persuade women, like her, to fight for themselves. Her language was used based off of the women that ran in her social circle, yet dismissed different identities of women. She was never writing for women of color, lesbians, or poor women. She was writing for the women like her.
Now, some people may say this is a product of its time, but Friedan had a history of discrimination, especially towards lesbian women. She even went as far as labeling lesbian feminists “the lavender menace” because she did not want to fight for lesbian rights. Up until a few years before she passed away, Friedan completely disregarded lesbian identities and believed marriage was only between a man and a woman.
Her lack of representation for women of different races, sexualities, and class statuses reflects on how language, although subtle, has meanings that far outweighs the surface level. The Feminine Mystique has not aged well, nor will it because of how little Friedan cared to include the struggles of people who are unlike her. Her privilege granted her that. Feminists today will not forget it—now or in the near future. Because “the problem that has no name” was one seeped in prejudice that Friedan herself perpetuated.
kpetz1's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars
Important read, but important to take it with a grain of salt, considering the important groups left out and some of the v views expressed in the writing. (Ie what Friedan wrote about homosexuality).
Important read, but important to take it with a grain of salt, considering the important groups left out and some of the v views expressed in the writing. (Ie what Friedan wrote about homosexuality).
hannawilloch's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
Must read
sophiavillanueva's review against another edition
5.0
Hay ciertas cosas en la vida que te llegan en el momento oportuno y la lectura de este libro no pudo encontrar un momento más oportuno en mi vida.
¿Feminismo blanco, de clase media, en un país hegemónico? Sí, sí y sí, pero no por eso "el problema que no tiene nombre" me es desconocido, no por eso las reflexiones e ideas de Betty Friedan no me dieron una gran sacudida, qué digo sacudida, una gran revolcada de la que me levanté mucho más decidida a reactivar mi vida creativa y productiva a través del trabajo fuera de casa.
Con este libro reafirme que en lugar de que nos separen cada vez más y más las diferencias, sería mejor que nos una cada vez más la necesidad de luchar contra aquellos problemas que enfrentamos todas, porque aún cuando pensamos que no, basta interesarnos honestamente en los problemas de otras para darnos cuenta que nosotras tenemos un sentimiento parecido, o al menos, que alguien muy cercana vive algo que creíamos muy alejado de nuestra realidad.
Gracias, Betty, por este libro que no por nada es una lectura obligada, ya sea para criticar, reflexionar, odiar, amar o en mi caso, para motivarme a salir de una vida que se tornaba más y más doméstica y me generaba cada vez mayor insatisfacción.
¿Feminismo blanco, de clase media, en un país hegemónico? Sí, sí y sí, pero no por eso "el problema que no tiene nombre" me es desconocido, no por eso las reflexiones e ideas de Betty Friedan no me dieron una gran sacudida, qué digo sacudida, una gran revolcada de la que me levanté mucho más decidida a reactivar mi vida creativa y productiva a través del trabajo fuera de casa.
Con este libro reafirme que en lugar de que nos separen cada vez más y más las diferencias, sería mejor que nos una cada vez más la necesidad de luchar contra aquellos problemas que enfrentamos todas, porque aún cuando pensamos que no, basta interesarnos honestamente en los problemas de otras para darnos cuenta que nosotras tenemos un sentimiento parecido, o al menos, que alguien muy cercana vive algo que creíamos muy alejado de nuestra realidad.
Gracias, Betty, por este libro que no por nada es una lectura obligada, ya sea para criticar, reflexionar, odiar, amar o en mi caso, para motivarme a salir de una vida que se tornaba más y más doméstica y me generaba cada vez mayor insatisfacción.
georgialilyw's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
Obviously, some of this book has not aged well, but I was surprised about the amount that had. I feel the mistake people would make would be to read this thinking it is an examination of a universal women's experience (from the time) when actually (as Friedan expresses) this is a majority white, middle class women's life. The way that this made me think about relationships, careers and even how I want to spend my time will stay with me. I would recommend reading as an important part of women's history.
minervaxyz's review against another edition
2.0
NOT MY REVIEW BUT REASONATED W/ me:
I think it’s generally agreed upon that this book is dated and ignores the experience of working women, poor women, and women of color. I agree with this assessment.
I think it’s generally agreed upon that this book is dated and ignores the experience of working women, poor women, and women of color. I agree with this assessment.
I’m working my way through foundational feminist texts so this was of course on my list, as it’s always included in the cannon. I can understand why this book impacted a particular group of women at the time it was published, but it doesn’t have any relevance today unless you are trying to understand the history of feminist thought. It is also good commentary on white privilege.
In brief, this is a book about wealthy white women choosing (heavily influenced by wealthy white men/the patriarchy) not to grow, learn, self-actualize, work, or do anything worthwhile simply because they didn’t have to. This eventually caused them mental distress (shocking!).
leasummer's review against another edition
3.0
This is a classic text and I feel like I should have liked it more, but many of the mystique points don't apply to me. I can imagine how amazing it was to read when it was first published.
I listened to the Audible audiobook and did not care for the narrator, I felt like she read in monotone voice and would run on sentences when she should have taken a breath.
Glad I finally read this. I think it's important still today. It is sad how much has not changed.
I listened to the Audible audiobook and did not care for the narrator, I felt like she read in monotone voice and would run on sentences when she should have taken a breath.
Glad I finally read this. I think it's important still today. It is sad how much has not changed.
katiedavis2244's review against another edition
5.0
IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THIS STOP AND READ IT NOW. Honestly took me a little bit to get through because it reads almost like a textbook, but is full of such important concepts and completely worth the investment. There is so much further to go in the women's empowerment movement! One of my favorite books now.
dorothy_gale's review against another edition
5.0
I believe this book saved lives!
Wow. 98% of this book makes total sense, and what remains she just hadn't figured out by publication in 1963. I truly believe that had Sylvia Plath (author of the Bell Jar) gotten to read this, she wouldn't have killed herself. Unfortunately it was at least a month too late. Being forced into unnatural, extremely limited, demeaning roles killed countless women throughout history. I appreciated being able to learn about the struggles of previous generations so I don't take their amazing work and sacrifices for granted. When I told my mom I was reading this, she said "you're reading about me." It was also insightful to learn about the psychological impacts of women who were not allowed to self-actualize, especially on parenting and children. And the impacts of Freud's craziness. I liked how Friedan leveraged Maslow's research, and also her experience with women's magazines of the day. I'm sure I would have loved her -- she just told it like it was. This book is credited with starting the "second wave" of feminism, and it is my favorite feminist book so far. I think it should be required reading for ALL women, and men who champion them.
Wow. 98% of this book makes total sense, and what remains she just hadn't figured out by publication in 1963. I truly believe that had Sylvia Plath (author of the Bell Jar) gotten to read this, she wouldn't have killed herself. Unfortunately it was at least a month too late. Being forced into unnatural, extremely limited, demeaning roles killed countless women throughout history. I appreciated being able to learn about the struggles of previous generations so I don't take their amazing work and sacrifices for granted. When I told my mom I was reading this, she said "you're reading about me." It was also insightful to learn about the psychological impacts of women who were not allowed to self-actualize, especially on parenting and children. And the impacts of Freud's craziness. I liked how Friedan leveraged Maslow's research, and also her experience with women's magazines of the day. I'm sure I would have loved her -- she just told it like it was. This book is credited with starting the "second wave" of feminism, and it is my favorite feminist book so far. I think it should be required reading for ALL women, and men who champion them.