Betty Friedan died
February 4, 2006 7:00 PM Subscribe
Betty Friedan died today, her 85th Birthday. A radical activist from her youth and a summa cum laude university graduate, she was fired from her leftist union journalist job in 1952 for being pregnant with her second child. Eleven years later she turned her experiences and insights into a book, The Feminine Mystique, which changed history for women.
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posted by dougunderscorenelso at 7:06 PM on February 4, 2006
posted by dougunderscorenelso at 7:06 PM on February 4, 2006
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posted by adamgreenfield at 7:25 PM on February 4, 2006
posted by adamgreenfield at 7:25 PM on February 4, 2006
Inspired my life as a young woman.
posted by generic230 at 7:27 PM on February 4, 2006
posted by generic230 at 7:27 PM on February 4, 2006
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posted by Token Meme at 7:27 PM on February 4, 2006
posted by Token Meme at 7:27 PM on February 4, 2006
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posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:28 PM on February 4, 2006 [1 favorite]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:28 PM on February 4, 2006 [1 favorite]
Oh, I'm crying. A wonderful woman whose work helped define that we as women have the right to choose our lives.
I feel confident and secure in my choice to be a stay at home parent and partner at this stage in my life, in part because she taught me it was mine to choose.
posted by padraigin at 7:30 PM on February 4, 2006
I feel confident and secure in my choice to be a stay at home parent and partner at this stage in my life, in part because she taught me it was mine to choose.
posted by padraigin at 7:30 PM on February 4, 2006
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posted by arcticwoman at 7:35 PM on February 4, 2006
posted by arcticwoman at 7:35 PM on February 4, 2006
I feel confident and secure in my choice to be a stay at home parent and partner at this stage in my life, in part because she taught me it was mine to choose.
That's beautiful.
posted by arcticwoman at 7:36 PM on February 4, 2006
That's beautiful.
posted by arcticwoman at 7:36 PM on February 4, 2006
Her work is unfinished. Women have come a long way in the West thanks to courageous pioneers like Friedan, but for the majority of women living in the world today, her ideas remain either unheard-of, or exist as fantasies beyond any hope of attainment. The world needs a thousand Betty Friedans.
posted by slatternus at 7:45 PM on February 4, 2006
posted by slatternus at 7:45 PM on February 4, 2006
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posted by lupus_yonderboy at 7:47 PM on February 4, 2006
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 7:47 PM on February 4, 2006
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posted by Hildegarde at 8:05 PM on February 4, 2006
posted by Hildegarde at 8:05 PM on February 4, 2006
Even though I'm a dirty bearded biker guy, I loved her. (love her) Any strong man loves and respects an equally strong woman. Betty was one of our great american women who helped set the stage for sexual equality.
Betty, a big kiss to you, and I'll see you when I get there! SHTMWWYGT!!!!!(secret message to Betty)
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posted by snsranch at 8:08 PM on February 4, 2006
Betty, a big kiss to you, and I'll see you when I get there! SHTMWWYGT!!!!!(secret message to Betty)
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posted by snsranch at 8:08 PM on February 4, 2006
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posted by cybercoitus interruptus at 8:11 PM on February 4, 2006
posted by cybercoitus interruptus at 8:11 PM on February 4, 2006
This led me to write this article to my once-private mailing list at http://ax.to/tr (feel free to subscribe).
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 8:50 PM on February 4, 2006
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 8:50 PM on February 4, 2006
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(all these wonderful women dying lately--Ms. Parks, Ms. King, and now Ms. Friedan--it's awful)
posted by amberglow at 8:52 PM on February 4, 2006
(all these wonderful women dying lately--Ms. Parks, Ms. King, and now Ms. Friedan--it's awful)
posted by amberglow at 8:52 PM on February 4, 2006
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posted by nakedcodemonkey at 9:13 PM on February 4, 2006
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 9:13 PM on February 4, 2006
Oh, I'm crying. A wonderful woman whose work helped define that we as women have the right to choose our lives.
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posted by Jikido at 9:51 PM on February 4, 2006
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posted by Jikido at 9:51 PM on February 4, 2006
Rest in peace, Ms. Friedan. Your book changed my life.
posted by longdaysjourney at 10:08 PM on February 4, 2006
posted by longdaysjourney at 10:08 PM on February 4, 2006
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(I cried earlier, and it was for her, I think. A woman who changed the world)
posted by kalimac at 10:12 PM on February 4, 2006
(I cried earlier, and it was for her, I think. A woman who changed the world)
posted by kalimac at 10:12 PM on February 4, 2006
rosemere: A complicated woman, but she did good.
I've found it interesting over the years how profiles of her euphemistically or obliquely handle the issue of her difficult personality.
She was a person, who if her pencil point broke would throw it at someone and start screaming.
But my mother, a typical 50's suburban bride, credits her book with changing her life.
posted by StickyCarpet at 10:47 PM on February 4, 2006
I've found it interesting over the years how profiles of her euphemistically or obliquely handle the issue of her difficult personality.
She was a person, who if her pencil point broke would throw it at someone and start screaming.
But my mother, a typical 50's suburban bride, credits her book with changing her life.
posted by StickyCarpet at 10:47 PM on February 4, 2006
We share the same birthday, but my life was fundamentally improved because of her work. A great woman and a great beauty.
posted by filament at 10:55 PM on February 4, 2006
posted by filament at 10:55 PM on February 4, 2006
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posted by trip and a half at 12:28 AM on February 5, 2006
posted by trip and a half at 12:28 AM on February 5, 2006
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posted by Smart Dalek at 4:06 AM on February 5, 2006
posted by Smart Dalek at 4:06 AM on February 5, 2006
Most importantly, the fight (for women to have the right to live their lives as they want to) is not over. But she gave us tools and inspiration.
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posted by Sijeka at 7:01 AM on February 5, 2006
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posted by Sijeka at 7:01 AM on February 5, 2006
This thread reminds me of the movie "Mona Lisa Smile."
posted by obeygiant at 7:16 AM on February 5, 2006
posted by obeygiant at 7:16 AM on February 5, 2006
Interesting that Google News has her obit as a small side link under the heading "In The News" but Grandpa Munster's death got a large mention. In light of the pioneering, global impact Betty Friedan had on the planet over the last half a century that seems odd. Yeah, it's true she may have been a 'difficult' person with a volatile temper while making major historic changes, she's in good (or bad) company there with many others of either gender.
Loved your post snsranch.
Thank you lupus_yonderboy for the informative and constructive encouragement to help edit Wikipedia! Liked your changes.
Happy Birthday Filament! :)
You're right slatternus, literally billions of women don't have it so lucky with the choices we have -and are trying to hang onto- in the USA, some of Western Europe and Oz. Guess the changes have to start someplace. I'm just grateful somebody changed the Stepford Wife mold I was supposed to fit into in the mid-1960's USA, so I and other women here could possibly go out into the world and have a real life, choices and all.
posted by nickyskye at 7:24 AM on February 5, 2006
Loved your post snsranch.
Thank you lupus_yonderboy for the informative and constructive encouragement to help edit Wikipedia! Liked your changes.
Happy Birthday Filament! :)
You're right slatternus, literally billions of women don't have it so lucky with the choices we have -and are trying to hang onto- in the USA, some of Western Europe and Oz. Guess the changes have to start someplace. I'm just grateful somebody changed the Stepford Wife mold I was supposed to fit into in the mid-1960's USA, so I and other women here could possibly go out into the world and have a real life, choices and all.
posted by nickyskye at 7:24 AM on February 5, 2006
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posted by madamjujujive at 7:32 AM on February 5, 2006
posted by madamjujujive at 7:32 AM on February 5, 2006
padragian: "[V]acuuming the living room floor -- with or without makeup -- is not work that takes enough thought or energy to challenge any woman's full capacity. … Down through the ages man has known that he was set apart from other animals by his mind's power to have an idea, a vision, and shape the future to it … when he discovers and creates and shapes a future different from his past, he is a man, a human being."
posted by null terminated at 8:55 AM on February 5, 2006
posted by null terminated at 8:55 AM on February 5, 2006
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posted by mygothlaundry at 9:15 AM on February 5, 2006
posted by mygothlaundry at 9:15 AM on February 5, 2006
As someone who's actually read the book, I just thought I'd warn you all before you go and read it just because the author kicked the bucket. It's awful. Just really poorly written and definitely showing its age. While it was a great revelation at the time it was written, most of the points in it have become common knowledge and wisdom. If you're interested in the history of the feminist movement, go for it. If you're looking for something to read, stay the hell away.
posted by Brockstar at 11:52 AM on February 5, 2006
posted by Brockstar at 11:52 AM on February 5, 2006
While it was a great revelation at the time it was written, most of the points in it have become common knowledge and wisdom.
I have read the book, and this to me was the measure of her achievement. She radically changed North American society's perception of a woman's role.
posted by orange swan at 2:41 PM on February 5, 2006
I have read the book, and this to me was the measure of her achievement. She radically changed North American society's perception of a woman's role.
posted by orange swan at 2:41 PM on February 5, 2006
Exactly. But to all the people who are going "Oh, she died, I should read her book," I'm recommending against it.
posted by Brockstar at 4:44 PM on February 5, 2006
posted by Brockstar at 4:44 PM on February 5, 2006
It's not a poorly written book. Read it, if only for the history it made.
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posted by melissa may at 11:36 PM on February 5, 2006
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posted by melissa may at 11:36 PM on February 5, 2006
I read it because it was seminal. Sometimes you hear some book referred to again and again, often by people who haven't read it. And very often such people misconstrue the material and mischaracterize the author — like Friedan, or Marx, or whomever. So I wanted to know what the book said.
I found it a historical document rather than anything revelatory. And Friedan's comparison of housewives to concentration camp inmates left me grinding my teeth. But I'm glad I read it.
posted by orange swan at 6:02 AM on February 6, 2006
I found it a historical document rather than anything revelatory. And Friedan's comparison of housewives to concentration camp inmates left me grinding my teeth. But I'm glad I read it.
posted by orange swan at 6:02 AM on February 6, 2006
Germaine Greer's not-really-a-tribute-as-such in the Guardian.
I kind of agree with Greer, or at least defer to her, but then I usually do. She's a lot smarter and better-informed than me.
posted by Grangousier at 6:30 AM on February 7, 2006
I kind of agree with Greer, or at least defer to her, but then I usually do. She's a lot smarter and better-informed than me.
posted by Grangousier at 6:30 AM on February 7, 2006
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i really ought to read that.
posted by salad spork at 7:05 PM on February 4, 2006