The Feminine Mystique

With the publication of The Feminine Mystique, Betty Friedan became the most prominent and famous feminist of the 1960s. Though other feminist icons like Gloria Steinem would eventually rival her fame, the book made Friedan’s name synonymous with what many scholars refer to as the “second wave” of the feminist movement. While the first wave of the 19th and early 20th centuries focused primarily on women’s suffrage, the second wave focused on a broader array of issues. Second wave leaders pushed for legislation that would expand women’s rights, such as contraception and abortion access, but also pushed for changes in public attitudes toward women, such as acceptance of their sexuality and recognition of their leadership capabilities in the workplace.

In 1966, Friedan became the founder and first president of the National Organization for Women (NOW), an organization still active today. NOW was active in politics, often publicizing its agenda at political conventions and sometimes supporting specific candidates. In many ways, its efforts were successful, such as in securing contraceptive and abortion rights for all American women. Some of its goals remain unmet, however; the Equal Rights Amendment, designed to ensure that women have equal rights in areas such as property ownership and employment, remains unpassed today.