The Feminine Mystique Essay, Research Paper
Women make up a fair portion of the most wonderful people on earth. They are compassionate, intelligent, patient, careful, independent and focused, They are business executives, actors, artists, poets, scientists, wives and mothers. They are, perhaps, the most subtly oppressed and disillusioned group in society. THE FEMININE MYSTIQUE, by Betty Friedan, champions the cuase of the maladjusted, unsatisifed and all too common victim of “the problem that has no name”–the American housewife.
She is told that she has all a girl could want: a loving husband, beautiful children, a comfortable home. She is a business manager, cook, nurse, chauffeur, dressmaker, interior decorator, accountant, caterer, teacher and private secretary. She is a psrt of the glorified “Occupation: housewife” movement. Yet she searches for something more. An undefined yearning grips her soul. She struggles to live up to the societal standard of feminine normality, adjustment and maturity. The goal of her life is feminine fulfillment, be it in products, magazxines, children or sex. She is the victim of “the feminine mystique”–the elusive mirage of contentedness and appreciation in the desert of family life and marriage. Friedan’s book examines this problem openly and objectively, observing several key issues. Women, she argues, are conditioned to think that ultimate success lies in the glorification of their femininity to its utmost potential. Education and equal rights are simply the consequences of neurotic women wishing to be men. Those things offer no feminine affirmation; hence, they are unable to satisfy the modern woman who revels in the glory of her sex. In the same way, independence and hard-nosed perseverance leave women loveless and alone. True women, those who win romance and eduring love, are gentle, graceful and intoxiacatingly (or sickeningly, for that matter) sweet. Childbearing is seen as the pinnacle of human achievement (as evidenced in studies of South Sea societies conducted by Margaret Mead). Education and a career-oriented mentality lead to sexual disorders. The task of “finding one’s self” proves too difficult, especially when the alternative of societal definiton through terms like “wife” and “mother” appears so alluring. Women must be “young and frivolous, almost childlike; fluffy and feminine; passive; gaily content in a world of bedroom and kitchen, babies and home.” All of this comprises the feminine mystique–each issue creates the domestic heroine to which all pay homage but for which none are truly suited. Women become trapped in the drudgery of menial household labor, entirely reliant on advertisng and appliances to reaffirm the “sanctity” of their role, or sex to awaken the deadness in their souls. Friedan, through meticulous, reliable research and the careful interviewing of countless subjects, paints a picture of the American concept of femininity that is grim and deplorable at best.
While Friedan tended to be staunchly feminist and highly critical (not necessarily bad traits), she had a convincing, detailed and accurate writing style that makes her points at least mildly palatable to non-feminists. She provided an endless ream of exceedingly persuasive statistics, colored by pleasingly astute observations, woven together flawlessly by a surprisingly conversational tone. She included numerous quotes from magazines, all of which contained eerily similar, disgustingly cute, and “freckle-faced” brunettes with names of “kitty” and the like. It was brought to my attention that American women, since 1939, have become three and four sizes smaller. I was also made awaree of the single most nauseating advertisement I have ever had the displeasure of reading. Apparently, in the 1960 NEW YORK TIMES, an ad was printed which pictured size 3 to 6x dresses bearing the slogan: “She Too Can Join the Man-Trap Set.” Oh, joy. Where do I sign up?
In conclusion, I believe this book to be extremely well-written and exceedingly accurate, easily recommended to any friend, male or female. It provides a rare, if frightening, glimpse into the nature of what it means to be feminine. Hopefully, through efforts similar to this, we will one day cure the myriad of symptoms of “the problem that has no name.”
Другие работы по теме:
Stereotypes Of Men Essay Research Paper Stereotypes
Stereotypes Of Men Essay, Research Paper Stereotypes of Men Both Scott Russell Sanders Looking at Women and Herb Goldberg s In Harness: The Male Condition discuss the idea of stereotypes of men in today s
Koran Essay Research Paper The Koran or
Koran Essay, Research Paper The Koran or Qur’an is the sacred scripture of Islam. A scripture so sacred it urges a total commitment to him alone who is god. (Grolier Interactive 98). I found that
Trifles Essay Research Paper Are we Living
Trifles Essay, Research Paper Are we Living in a Chauvinist Male Society? Gender roles are attitudes that a society links to each sex. They are basically prejudicial descriptions of who men and women are. In today?s society, men and women are divided into two stereotypical gender-roles; the feminine code and the masculine code.
Women And Shopping Essay Research Paper What
Women And Shopping Essay, Research Paper What motivates women to shop? I attempted to answer the age old question by surveying five ladies who are self-proclaimed experts at the “art” of shopping. These five ladies, Joanne, Kim, Marie, Shirley, and Kimmie sat down with me individually and this is what I basically gathered from the discussion sessions.
Alice Walker Question Essay Research Paper The
Alice Walker Question Essay, Research Paper The selection from Alice Walker deals with the coming of civil rights and the different attitudes of the old and coming generations. Walker portrays the mother figure as supportive and tough; she fills both the masculine and feminine rolls, “With fists as well as / Hands.” Images to emphasize the descriptions take up their own lines within the poem “Step,” “Hands,” “Doors,” “Shirts,” “Armies,” “Fields,” “Ditches,” “Desks,” and ending with “Themselves.” This combination of domestic and military objects emphasizes the women’s self reliance and perseverance.
Feminine Traditions Essay Research Paper In our
Feminine Traditions Essay, Research Paper In our society women are often pressured and conditioned to conform to traditional feminine standards. In the past fifty or so years women have begun
A Room Of One
’s Own Essay, Research Paper Hundreds of years ago, an unconscious culture diseased the female population. Similar to Shakespeare’s sister, women were conditioned to conform to a feminine ideology. This concept of femininity spread through out the country essentially defining the nature of a woman and robbing them of their innate sense of self.
Women In Politics Essay Research Paper During
Women In Politics Essay, Research Paper During the revolutionary era, American leaders decided to use economic boycotts in their struggle against Britain. The goal of these boycotts was to stop the purchase of imported goods
Feminine Mystique Essay Research Paper The Feminine
Feminine Mystique Essay, Research Paper The Feminine Mystique The first couple of chapters of The Feminine Mystique basically points out that there was a major problem that was plaguing America’s female population during the 1950’s. The main idea behind this problem was that women were raised to basically become housewives.
The Feminine Mystique Essay Research Paper The
The Feminine Mystique Essay, Research Paper The Feminine Mystique The Feminine Mystique is the title of a book written by Betty Friedan who also founded The National Organization for Women (NOW) to help US women gain
Feminine Mystique Essay Research Paper The Postwar
Feminine Mystique Essay, Research Paper The Postwar effects on Women The “feminine mystique” that American culture promotes is entirely dependent upon its ideas, beliefs, and needs of the time. American culture has always tended to influence women into doing what the day and age required. After men went to war there was a gap in the work force that needed to be filled.
The Minus Man Essay Research Paper Men
The Minus Man Essay, Research Paper Men and Women: Dogs and Sheep The Wasp Factory is a novel that focuses heavily on the power of gender. It is a novel that associates masculine power and feminine weakness to animality. Within the novel, males are characterized as skilled, cunning, smart, and powerful; they are associated with dogs.
Xmen Essay Essay Research Paper Discuss the
Xmen Essay Essay, Research Paper Discuss the construction and representation of gender in X-men As well as the films content, the films title can also be discussed, especially when discussing gender representation. X-Men implies mystery and secrecy, but the Men in the title is expected to cover the female members of the cast as well as the male.
Shall I Compare Thee To A SummerS
Day? By Shakespeare Essay, Research Paper Shall I Compare my Poem to a Women? When we talk about sex we can mean one of two things. One is being physical with someone else and two to say whether a person is a man or a woman. People contain physical characteristics which distinguishes them from either being man or women.
Canto Of Pope Essay Research Paper In
Canto Of Pope Essay, Research Paper In this Canto, Pope describes the satirical decent of Umbriel into “underworld” as the last literary convention of epic poetry that Pope uses.
Abortion Essay Research Paper There are many
Abortion Essay, Research Paper There are many women who have choices to make in life that can be difficult or easy. One very difficult decision is whether or not to terminate a pregnancy. Most people should think before they act. If a woman has to terminate a pregnancy, it is because she wasn’t planning to get pregnant or because she did not use birth control.
Islamic Women Essay Research Paper Many times
Islamic Women Essay, Research Paper Many times when feminists looked at Islamic women they criticized the man for not treating women properly. However, as Jane I. Smith states, women of Islam are not really offended by that fact, on the contrary, they believe that it is better for them.
Reiters Syndome Essay Research Paper Equal Rights
Reiters Syndome Essay, Research Paper Equal Rights for Women During the nineteenth century, the women suffrage movement was coming out full force to demand the equal rights of women in the United States and Europe. The women who supported the women’s suffrage adapted a Declaration of Principles that simply stated that, “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal” (Perry, 1995, p.194).
The Yellow Wallpaper By Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Essay, Research Paper Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s story, “The Yellow Wallpaper,” explores the restricted societal roles of both Jane and John. Gilman, a strong supporter of women’s rights, focuses on her account with depression through this story (Hill 150). Traditionally, the man must take care of the woman both financially and emotionally while the woman’s role remains at home.
Gendre Stereotyping Essay Research Paper In the
Gendre Stereotyping Essay, Research Paper In the year 2000, the average person is spending more of his/her leisure time watching television, or using their computer. The shows on TV and the information available to us available through all types of media influence our decision process. An individuals perception of the world is ever-changing as he/she recieves more and more information.
Henrik Ibsen
“A Dolls House” (Ideas) Essay, Research Paper How women and Men are portrayed in the play and how this can be directly related back to the social issues of the time.
Delinquent Daughters Summary Essay Research Paper Delinquent
Delinquent Daughters Summary Essay, Research Paper ?Delinquent Daughters Summary? Delinquent Daughters by Mary E. Odem touches on many topics involving women residing in the U.S. from 1885 to 1920. Not only does the book raise issues about women as a whole, but also it breaks the women into a more realistic view.
Gender And Communication Essay Research Paper In
Gender And Communication Essay, Research Paper In response to what we have discussed thus far in Interpersonal Communication, I would like to further explore the idea of gender in the interpersonal communication arena. As was said in class, gender influences cultural perspectives. Gender also influences how we view ourselves in society.
Mother Nature Essay Research Paper Nature has
Mother Nature Essay, Research Paper Nature has a certain presence or spirit. It s an almost indescribable feeling just to go out to the middle of the sea or into a forest and just sit there in awe of its beauty. Nature has a certain mystique and mystery to it that draws people to it. Nature, described as mysterious and secretive, is a recurrent theme throughout many stories.
Womens Rights Essay Research Paper The First
Womens Rights Essay, Research Paper The First Women?s Rights Movement Was their fight successful? A group of women set out to make a point. A point that women don?t have to be dependent on men; that they can live their own lives with their own individual rights and beliefs. All these women wanted was a chance to live a life free of the constant pressures and contradictions.
Female Bodybuilding Essay Research Paper In this
Female Bodybuilding Essay, Research Paper In this paper we are supposed to consider the concern for ?resistance? also known as women transgressing racial and gender hierarchies within the context of ?technological transgressions.? I feel that women are not in fact a ?resistance.? In their initial purpose, women attempt to be a form of resistance.
Antigone Essay Research Paper Analysis on the
Antigone Essay, Research Paper Analysis on the conflict men v. women found in Antigone Many conflicts can be found within various plays. In Sophocles’ Antigone one of the many conflicts found is men versus women. The king of Thebes, Creon, has a problem with women. But not only the king, Ismene, Antigone’s sister as well refers to herself and her sister as being inferior to men.
Changing Roles Of Women Due To The
Revolution Essay, Research Paper changing roles of women due to the revolution. During the revolutionary era, American leaders decided to use economic boycotts in theirstruggle against Britain. The goal of these boycotts was to stop the purchase of imported goods(which could only be purchased from England).
Men And Women Are Different Essay Research
Paper Men and Women Different? Are women and men really that different? I think so. I am at a stage in my life where I think all men are after one thing. Sex. When I sit here and think about it, I really have to think, do women and men have anything in common. Women communicate in a completely different manner than women.
Symbols Of Women Essay Research Paper Symbols
Symbols Of Women Essay, Research Paper Symbols of Women There are many symbols placed on women in today’s society. These symbols act as stereotypes that usually degrade women on a daily basis. However, many of these symbols are just a term, and have no meaning behind them. An example of this is the reference of women being referred to as “dogs.”