Author: Betty Friedan
Synopsis
Friedan examines the dissatisfaction experienced by many middle-class American women who were expected to find complete fulfillment in domestic life. She challenges cultural ideals that restricted women's aspirations to marriage, motherhood, and homemaking.
Why It Matters to Sociology
The book helped energize second-wave feminism in the United States. It contributed to public debate about education, employment, family roles, discrimination, and women's opportunities outside the home.