The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan 1963I tried, I really did. I've wanted to read this book for such a long time and when I finally settled down to read it I found that I couldn't. I had difficulty getting into her use of language. We just don't talk like that anymore, nor do we read that way either.
Another issue I had was that Friedan was preaching to the choir. I understand her perspective. I still find her overall argument relevant today. I see women turning to Oprah, book clubs, gyms, shopping, cooking classes as ways of finding themselves. Granted this isn't the entirety of Friedan's message it is a portion of it.
I feel horrible that I couldn't finish this. I mean, I graduated with a BA in Women's Studies and I can't finish such a pivotal work in Women's Studies! Something must be wrong with me. There are just so many books I want to read that I've got to put my foot down at times in order to spend my time reading something else. Don't you ever find yourself doing that?
