Betty Friedan's The Importance Of Work

Occupational Therapy began to emerge in the 1700s, during the “Age of Enlightment”. It was during this period that revolutionary ideas were evolving regarding the “infirmed” and mentally ill. At that time in history, the mentally ill were treated like prisoners; locked up and considered to be a danger to society.

In the early 20th century, women fought for the right to vote. After more than half a century of continuous activism, the 19th amendment was passed, granting women voting rights. This triumph was merely the beginning of what the women’s rights movement would accomplish. Over the next several decades, women campaigned for policies which challenged societal norms and gave them equal footing with men. Pinpointing a sole cause of this movement has proved to be somewhat problematic, as there are several factors to its rise. In other words, the rise of the women’s rights movement in the period 1940-1975 was prompted by a multitude of components.

Susan Oliver writes an exceptional biography that describes in detail the life, success, struggles and failures of Betty Friedan. From her childhood as a divergent American-Jew living in Peoria, Illinois to being an outstanding student and writer in school, finding her path as a strong feminist at Smith College, her struggles as a mother and wife to mothering the second feminist movement. Susan Oliver explored all the factors that contributed to Betty Friedan’s strong private and public persona.

Women now began playing a role in the work place during the 1920s which caused many cultural changes and conflicts.. Women now began to take on various jobs previously done by men, Jobs such as welding, mining. Pharmaceutical and law. Women also began to dress differently and act differently during this time. They were dressing less conservatively and participating in things such as drinking and smoking. Women began to transition from a passive role of house keeper to a more active role in society. This was the New women, When men returned from world war one life as the once knew had changed drastically. The modern women was now economically independent and self sufficient. This started many cultural conflicts as many disagreed with woman's rights and claimed they had a separate role in the world which wasn’t in the work place and didn’t deserve the same freedoms as men. The modern women was also blamed for the decline in marriage, now being economically independent women could have relationships that did not lead to marriage or a family. This was a new freedom for women and really shook up our countries culture. This large group of young brave women in their twenties and thirties took the role of the modern woman and truly changed society, as we still live today heavily influenced by the changes they

The movement for woman rights appears to have been lost in today’s events because there once was a period in America’s history where woman activisms and pride was on the front pages of America’s newspaper storylines. The struggle and preservation for feminism has not all been fully removed or forgotten by the American public since the Democratic political party maintains women equality as issue as on its national platform. There are a number of feminist, like Bell Hooks, Maya Angelou, and Betty Friedan, who have participated in the carrying women issues to the top of the mountain and placing them within the conscience of the American society. Perhaps one of the most distinguished bearers for women rights and issues, Gloria Steinem helped

In relation to the previous discussion on Margaret Sanger, this chapter will explore the theories of Sanger who wrote in the period of first wave feminism in relation to Betty Friedan; a second wave feminist and women’s activist who, like Sanger chooses to focus on the constraints of female biology despite the difference in time. This direct comparison allows a critical analysis between the parallels and differences of the first two waves of feminism on the grounds of bodily autonomy; investigating further whether these two waves are connected on these grounds and how significant they are in the different time frames. Friedan positioned herself within society as one of the most influential figures to contribute to the development of feminism

One of the most well-known entertainers of the world, Beyoncé, is part of the best singers in the music industry. She is, somehow, considered to be a great example of the Feminist movements for showing off the talents of the femininity. The Feminist Movement started in the 1840’s, but it didn’t really expand until the 1960’s after Betty Friedan’s book The Feminine Mystique was published. In that book, Betty encourages women to change the way society view them as the ideal employment for them is to stay at home mom and wife voice their opinions and fight for equality of the sexes. Feminism, in fact, is groups that fight for women’s right and equality between the sexes. According to the article “Betty Friedan: Feminist Icon and Founder of the

Once again, women were called upon to fulfill a role in the defense of America on one hand to perpetuate the American population and on the other to promote American ideals abroad. Women had a chance to be equal to men. Women were allowed the freedom of their own bodies when abortion was legalized. Yet the right was a complete contradiction, because women were prevented by the government from any protection, such as birth control and condoms. Women had no choice but to use abortion as their form of birth control. The new passion for work is giving women a new perspective on themselves; women are now strong and independent individuals who want respect and equality.

In her interview she explained her displeasure for the ERA and the women’s rights movement. She viewed the ERA and the women’s rights movement to be destructive, anti-family, and would negatively affect women (Story). She believed that women were meant to be wives and mothers while men were meant to financially support his wife and children (Story). Schlafly believed that women should not be hired for jobs they are unable to do physically and that in doing so it would be hurtful to men, hurtful to women, and hurtful to the community (Story). That the introduction of the ERA would not benefit would women but instead put them in financial strive. Ms. Schlafly finished her interview by reminding the reader that men and women were not equal and that the though itself was nonsense

In her essay, “The Importance of Work,” from The Feminine Mystique published in 1963, Betty Friedan confronts American women’s search for identity. Throughout the novel, Betty Friedan breaks new ground, concocting the idea that women can discover personal fulfillment by straying away from their original roles. Friedan ponders on the idea that The Feminine Mystique is the cause for a vast majority of women during that time period to feel confined by their occupations around the house; therefore, restricting them from discovering who they are as women. Friedan’s novel is well known for creating a different kind of feminism and rousing various women across the nation.

Women played a major role in WWII which lead on to one of the greatest social movements in history. Betty Freidan was an important pioneer of feminism and played a critical part to women’s right movements or also know as "the mother of the modern feminist movement.” Freidan was born on February 4, 1921, in Peoria, Illinois. Freidan excelled at Smith college in 1942, graduating with a bachelor’s degree psychology. Friedan became an activist while at Smith College, reeling at injustices through the power of her writing in regard to causes such as labor reform, academic freedom, and political issues leading to World War II(Terry 2). After spending some time in California, Freidan relocated her self to New York in the mid 1940’s where she found

It is said that as a woman you are suppose to stay home, clean up, breed and raise the children. Women were not allowed to hold a higher job or success than men because they might feel intimidated and their ego might actually shirk instead of being inflated. The concept of how women are suppose to portray, have been suppressing women into these roles by both men and women since the earth has been created.

Women play a pivotal role in the growth and development of social, economic and political spheres. There are countable women in the history of the world who have made remarkable contributions to the various spheres. Their accounts are recorded in books, magazines and journals amongst others. The Feminine Mystique is one of the books that received a wide audience in the 1950s. Written by Betty Friedan, the book is highly associated with the revolutions that led to the women liberation movements. The chapter on the “Problem that has No Name,” explains the dilemma of women and the challenges they faced

The issue of women’s rights and how different societies and cultures deal with it had been on the table for many centuries. In the United States of America during the 1800s, women began to move toward and demand getting equal rights as men, they decided to speak up and fight for their stolen rights. In the 1960s, continued working toward their goal, women broadened their activities through the women’s rights movement which aimed to help them in gaining their right to receive education, occupy the same jobs that were once titled only for men, and get an access to leadership positions. The women’s rights movement has a great impact on women today, although it started a long time ago, but it did not stop and women are reaping their fruit today,

In reality, many women took jobs outside the home to help pay bills and make a living.