Question

What impact did the publication of the Feminist Mystique have on women and gender movement in USA?

A. It violated the idea that heterosexual men would inevitably want to marry and have children
B. It extended the scope of hegemonic masculinity to include sexually active Black men and older white men
C. It began to privilege the heterosexual male gaze
D. It catered to a range of sexualities

Answer 1

Betty Friedan's 'The Feminine Mystique' was pivotal in challenging traditional gender roles and helped to drive the Second Wave Feminism movement, advocating for equal rights and opportunities for women.

Step-by-step explanation:

The publication of Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique in 1963 had a tremendous impact on the women's movement and gender roles in the USA. Friedan's groundbreaking work contested the then prevalent notion that women's destiny was solely to marry and bear children, and instead, raised awareness about the dissatisfaction many women felt being confined to the role of homemakers. The book sold three million copies in its first three years, signaling both its popularity and the resonance of its message with a wide audience.

In response to the issues Friedan highlighted, the National Organization for Women (NOW) was formed in 1966, which set an extensive agenda for the feminist movement aimed at ensuring equal opportunities and rights for women in all aspects of American life. This agenda was significant in challenging the gender norms of the time and advocating for women's independence, both legally and socially.

The impact of The Feminine Mystique extended well beyond its publication, helping to spawn Second Wave Feminism, a movement that sought to address the systemic sexism that limited women's roles in society and to secure rights related to bodily autonomy, such as the right to abortion and the prevention of domestic violence.