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sachinka's review against another edition
2.0
I actually only made it halfway through. Interesting information, very dry read though.
stacygiven's review against another edition
4.0
I came to the startling realization recently that, despite it being a landmark work which I have been hearing about my whole life, I had never actually read this book. So I picked it up. It must be admitted that I fully expected to find it dated, cliche, and quaint at the most. I was quite surprised (and maybe a bit disturbed) to find how relevant it still is. It must, of course, be read with understanding of its historical context, Friedan's life, and understanding of how the book's age impacts the content. Basically the entirety of chapter 12, "Progressive Dehumanization", made me cringe and there are plenty of other things in the book that can be easily criticized with our half-century of hindsight.
However, the important thing is that this book still resonated with me in a big way. I was born into a world that had already accepted much of what Friedan presented; into a generation that had the privledge to take for granted what feminism had earned for us. Yet, within the pages I still found myself, my parents, my in-laws, my friends, even teenagers that I know. The relevance is eerie. The 1950's woman is so far removed from the 2017 woman. So why are her shadows still everywhere?
This book is a powerhouse. It is clear why it accomplished what it did. I found it, for the most part, very insightful. It is clear now, however, that there is more to the story that perhaps Friedan did not realize at the time. Nonetheless, this is an important work and one not to be dismissed.
However, the important thing is that this book still resonated with me in a big way. I was born into a world that had already accepted much of what Friedan presented; into a generation that had the privledge to take for granted what feminism had earned for us. Yet, within the pages I still found myself, my parents, my in-laws, my friends, even teenagers that I know. The relevance is eerie. The 1950's woman is so far removed from the 2017 woman. So why are her shadows still everywhere?
This book is a powerhouse. It is clear why it accomplished what it did. I found it, for the most part, very insightful. It is clear now, however, that there is more to the story that perhaps Friedan did not realize at the time. Nonetheless, this is an important work and one not to be dismissed.
juliannevarghese's review against another edition
3.0
I’m going to start with the bad. This book has some glaring blind spots. Its discussion of homosexuality is horribly offensive and ill-informed. It either ignores race altogether or uses harmful ethnic stereotypes and comparisons. The chapters are long and her explanations are repetitive. She could have said the same thing just as effectively in about half the time with a good edit. Now, on to the good. A lot of what Friedan has to say was groundbreaking at the time and her discussion of the commodification of women still holds true today. This is an artifact of an earlier feminist movement and anyone reading that should read it for what it is—a relic of an earlier time.
yenneke's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 ⭐️
i thoroughly enjoyed learning about the subject for about the first 80 to 90 pages. after those it all got very boring, repetitive and the information is quite outdated. however, i am deeply impressed by betty friedan, because she was able to give so many unheard women a voice. #occupationhousewife
i thoroughly enjoyed learning about the subject for about the first 80 to 90 pages. after those it all got very boring, repetitive and the information is quite outdated. however, i am deeply impressed by betty friedan, because she was able to give so many unheard women a voice. #occupationhousewife
bookpaigey's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
Friedan says some outdated stuff about gay people and autistic people (she links their existence and issues to overbearing mothers which has aged poorly).
However, this book was a great reflection of how the role of women became so conservative in the mid-twentieth century. Friedan connected housewives to capitalism, passiveness, masculinity, and identity.
Her solution centers around education, and in her epilogue does she then discuss a social movement as she saw the barriers to education in real time.
However, this book was a great reflection of how the role of women became so conservative in the mid-twentieth century. Friedan connected housewives to capitalism, passiveness, masculinity, and identity.
umikitada's review against another edition
3.0
Good for the time yet she threw BIPOC and lgbtq folk under the bus so I want to give her a 2 but at least the book happened and it stimulated future work.