Paper Summary:

This paper presents a brief synopsis of Betty Friedan's 1963 book "The Feminine Mystique", whereby the main points of each chapter is summarily discussed. Next, the paper discusses the accuracy of the historical facts and events presented in it. The book's historical relevance is then analyzed and the paper ends with a brief conclusion.
This paper notes that it was written with reference from several books and textbooks on the issue of the second-wave of feminism occurring in America during the 1960s. The paper further notes that the purpose of the paper is to provide a comprehensive and edifying overview of second-wave feminism in the United States and highlight the importance of Friedan's work in jump-starting it. The paper uses MLA style endnotes rather than a works cited page.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Synopsis
Historical Accuracy
Historical Relevance
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"After listing these causes, Friedan then goes on to discuss the effects of the 'feminine mystique' on the housewives. Apart from noticing that most of them suffered from the 'problem with no name', Friedan also concludes from her interviews that these housewives had an insatiable desire for sex. She hypothesizes that this is mainly because the 'feminine mystique' limits women to roles based on their sexual functions, i.e., mother and housewife. Friedan also notes that the children of these stay-home mothers are affected with a "new and frightening passivity, softness [and] boredom"."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Braunstein, Peter et al. The Sixties Chronicle. Illinois: Legacy Publishing, 2004
• Friedan, Betty. The Feminine Mystique. New York: Norton, 2001
• Gerstle, Gary et al. Liberty, Equality and Power: A History of the American People Vol. 1: To 1877. (4th ed.) Belmont: Thomson Wadsworth, 2007
• Gerstle, Gary et al. Liberty, Equality and Power: A History of the American People Vol. 2: Since 1863. (4th ed.) Belmont: Thomson Wadsworth: 2007
• Moss, George Donelson. America in the Twentieth Century (3rd ed). New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1997

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