The Friedan mystique: feminist revolution and Betty Friedan's Jewish identity

Abstract

ABSTRACT Betty Friedan is often considered one of the foremothers of the women's liberation movement in the mid-twentieth century; however, more recently, critics have addressed her centering of white, middle-class women, especially in The Feminine Mystique. This brief essay examines Freidan's Jewish identity in conjunction with her experiences of anti-Semitism as a way of rethinking why Friedan centered white, middle-class women. I look specifically at Friedan's experiences growing up in an immigrant family that prioritized assimilation into American culture. With this background in mind, I address how Friedan became an image maker in the media despite her Jewish identity. The pressure to assimilate into Christian, white, middle-class norms informed her understanding of mainstream audiences as well as shaped the goals of her feminism.