Betty Friedan: Her LifeThere is no one in the women's movement more renowned or pervasive in her presence, more long-lasting--or more contentious--than Betty Friedan. But what sort of person is she, really? Judith Hennessee, a wonderfully penetrating writer who lived through many of the events recounted in this book, has dug deep and come up with a story of a woman of many paradoxes, a woman who survived disastrous moments and who continues to this day to lead, to find new energies and crusades. Before feminism, she focused her activism on fighting for the cause of labor unions against big business. She wanted to be an actress. Her female friends notwithstanding, she was known as the feminist who didn't like women. A champion of the family, she had a lusty and violent marriage. Her husband, Carl, was the first to realize that The Feminine Mystique would be a success--but it was the book and his wife's fame that precipitated the breakup of their marriage. NOW, the first feminist organization she founded, was never meant to be all-inclusive. Friedan envisioned it as a group that would be able to work things out with those in power. Even though she was a founder of three of the most important organizations of the women's movement--NOW, NWPC, NARAL--two of them shunted her aside. She continually confronted Gloria Steinem, her arch-rival, over the movement's direction. Betty Friedan is a book whose candor some will find objectionable, but most will come away with a new appreciation of a memorable woman whose rich life is here riotously revealed. "Her insecurities were as great as her achievements," Judith Hennessee writes in her Introduction, "and her flaws costher her leadership. But the movement she ushered in is immense, worldwide; it has permeated our lives; it is intrinsic to the public debate, and its issues have to be addressed. What she did for women outweighs the rest." |
From inside the book
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Page 67
... national honor . America was first in everything ; this was the American Century , and it was inconceivable that we could lose the space race . The national consensus was that the fault lay in the educational system , which took a ...
... national honor . America was first in everything ; this was the American Century , and it was inconceivable that we could lose the space race . The national consensus was that the fault lay in the educational system , which took a ...
Page 217
... National Women's Polit- ical Caucus and the Democratic Convention of 1972 , Betty repeated and extended her earlier accusations ; now she insinuated that the CIA or FBI had been pulling her opponents ' strings . ( She had already hinted ...
... National Women's Polit- ical Caucus and the Democratic Convention of 1972 , Betty repeated and extended her earlier accusations ; now she insinuated that the CIA or FBI had been pulling her opponents ' strings . ( She had already hinted ...
Page 324
... National Council of Women , 99 National Federation of Business and Professional Women Clubs , 97 National Institutes of Health , 238 National Organization for Women ( NOW ) , xv , 84 , 198–99 " Alice Doesn't " strike called by , 228 ...
... National Council of Women , 99 National Federation of Business and Professional Women Clubs , 97 National Institutes of Health , 238 National Organization for Women ( NOW ) , xv , 84 , 198–99 " Alice Doesn't " strike called by , 228 ...
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abortion American asked Barbara Barbara Seaman Beauvoir became Bella Abzug Bella and Gloria Betty and Carl Betty Friedan Betty Rollin Betty wrote Betty's BFC-SL Carl's caucus CHAPTER child College conference dinner divorce Dolores Dolores Alexander editor Emily Equal Rights Amendment Feminine Mystique feminism feminist fight friends Germaine Greer girls Gladys Gloria Steinem going Goldstein Harry Junior husband Ibid ICML idea invited issues Jacqui Ceballos Jonathan knew later leader lesbians lived look magazine marriage married Mary MCC-SL McCall's meeting Miriam mother needed never NOW's NWPC organization Parkway Village party Peoria political president radical Random House Redstockings Sag Harbor sexual Shana Alexander Shirley Sisterhood Smith social story Susan talk things thought Ti-Grace tion told took Transcript of MC vote wanted weekend woman women women's movement writing York