The Problem That Has No Name By Betty Friedan
Elisa Sain
Professor Wheat
ENG 105
21 march 2013
Analysis of Betty Friedan’s The Problem that has No Name through the lens of the Patriarchal culture of the post-war society
Feminism has been, as a social movement, one of the most significant historical events of human history. The publication of Betty Friedan 's book “The Feminine Mystique” makes reflections on the identity of women, as defined and identified by the functions they perform (housewife, mother, etc). Its first chapter The Problem That has no Name serves as a starting point for a comprehensive analysis of women in the American middle class in post-war society of the sixties. This problem refers to an insidious discomfort that was increasingly experienced by middle class American …show more content…
In several chapters of her work, the author devotes to make a complete analysis of the American housewife, a victim of the feminine mystique and the problem that has no name. Friedan described this housewife terming it as a heroin, apparently happy woman that fulfilled her mission, the one for which she was born (Sherman 21-33) The well-known image, of a woman who by tradition, was raised, educated and prepared to marry, have children, care for and maintain emotional stability at home. That woman that as a child grew up knowing what was expected of her, and in that sense should be prudent, sensible, gentle, affectionate, hardworking and self-sacrificing. This image of the perfect housewife was taught to them all their life, and was also built thanks to advertising, media, and sales that were based on the female role. It was all a psychological campaign, a common action orchestrated to achieve the intended purpose: to give kudos to the women as long as they fulfilled the requirements of ideal wife and …show more content…
In a work environment that regardless of all the hard work put into changing this situation, the fact is that there is an enormous inequality between women and men. Nowadays the female work has been duplicated; however it is important that thanks to great feminist leaders like Friedan, women have the choice to decide, to think outside the box, or in this case outside the house. Modern feminism flourished when Betty Friedan decided to write this book. Her legacy is extremely important; the clarity of her analysis opened many minds, and oriented women who never thought they’d find direction in their lives. It contributed so much that it helped women to cross their unconscious barriers and learned to trust all the opportunities life could offer
Professor Wheat
ENG 105
21 march 2013
Analysis of Betty Friedan’s The Problem that has No Name through the lens of the Patriarchal culture of the post-war society
Feminism has been, as a social movement, one of the most significant historical events of human history. The publication of Betty Friedan 's book “The Feminine Mystique” makes reflections on the identity of women, as defined and identified by the functions they perform (housewife, mother, etc). Its first chapter The Problem That has no Name serves as a starting point for a comprehensive analysis of women in the American middle class in post-war society of the sixties. This problem refers to an insidious discomfort that was increasingly experienced by middle class American …show more content…
In several chapters of her work, the author devotes to make a complete analysis of the American housewife, a victim of the feminine mystique and the problem that has no name. Friedan described this housewife terming it as a heroin, apparently happy woman that fulfilled her mission, the one for which she was born (Sherman 21-33) The well-known image, of a woman who by tradition, was raised, educated and prepared to marry, have children, care for and maintain emotional stability at home. That woman that as a child grew up knowing what was expected of her, and in that sense should be prudent, sensible, gentle, affectionate, hardworking and self-sacrificing. This image of the perfect housewife was taught to them all their life, and was also built thanks to advertising, media, and sales that were based on the female role. It was all a psychological campaign, a common action orchestrated to achieve the intended purpose: to give kudos to the women as long as they fulfilled the requirements of ideal wife and …show more content…
In a work environment that regardless of all the hard work put into changing this situation, the fact is that there is an enormous inequality between women and men. Nowadays the female work has been duplicated; however it is important that thanks to great feminist leaders like Friedan, women have the choice to decide, to think outside the box, or in this case outside the house. Modern feminism flourished when Betty Friedan decided to write this book. Her legacy is extremely important; the clarity of her analysis opened many minds, and oriented women who never thought they’d find direction in their lives. It contributed so much that it helped women to cross their unconscious barriers and learned to trust all the opportunities life could offer