Until i started writing the feminine mystique she confessed in 1973, i wasnt even. Writing history and thinking about women, she wrote in her collected essays, why history matters. Friedans book pulled the trigger on history, in the words of future shock author alvin toffler. In 1982, betty friedan published the second stage, which sought to help women wrestling with the demands of work and home. Gerda read the book almost as soon as it was published, and she fired off a letter. The results revealed that many women shared the same frustrations as her in their roles as housewives and mothers. Landmark, groundbreaking, classicthese adjectives barely describe the earthshaking and longlasting effects of betty friedans the feminine mystique. She asserted that they threatened to taint the reputation of the feminist movement, driving women away out of fear of association and diverting attention from moreimportant campaigns for. Gerda lerner was a historian of remarkable eloquence, insight, and courage, an advocate of the importance of history to the pursuit of social justice. Issuu is a digital publishing platform that makes it simple to publish magazines, catalogs, newspapers, books, and more online. What betty friedan did and didnt do christian feminism today. The combined sales of her dozen books go well into the hundreds of thousands. It proved that african american womens history could be written. Betty friedan, anna quindlen afterword, gail collins.
Reading betty friedans feminine mystique for the first time, 50 years after its publication, a critic found that the book still has the power to surprise and unsettle. In 1966, friedan cofounded and was elected the first. Gerda lerners letter to betty friedan radcliffe institute. Share gerda lerner quotations about choices, past and environment.
Gerda lerners letter to betty friedan radcliffe institute for. Even at the time, at least one observer, gerda lerner, raised questions. Betty friedan, pauline bart, and diane schulder, in which lerner presents her views of womens indoctrination into. Rethinking betty friedan and the feminine mystique. Papers of historian and feminist gerda lerner reflecting her professional career, writings, and lectures. The recently published treasure american protest literature, edited by zoe troddbelongs on our bookshelves for two types of enjoyment. The feminist majority foundation works for social and political and economic equality for women by using research and education to improve womens lives. Betty friedan s the feminine mystique, which connects the first and secondwave feminist movements, was published in 1963 and widely credited with sparking the postworld war ii womens movement. Gerda lerner was a historian and scholar who pioneered the field of womens history. Gerda lerner 27 refl ections eileen boris and elizabeth currans working women, especially negro women, labor not only under the disadvantages imposed by the feminine mystique, but under the more pressing disadvantages of economic discrimination. Start studying us history chapter 30 betty friedan the feminine mystique. Gerda lerners letter to betty friedan about her book, the feminine.
The unlikely pair had been thrown together by overlapping residencies at the rockefeller foundations bellagio center on. Jules gay, 8 books marjorie griffin cohen, 5 books ruth roach pierson, 4 books doris weatherford, 4 books statistique canada, 4 books barbara ehrenreich, 4 books betty friedan, 4 books gerda lerner, 4 books nancy f. A leading figure in the womens movement in the united states, her 1963 book the feminine mystique is often credited with sparking the second wave of american feminism in the 20th century. Historian martin seymoursmith places betty friedans the feminine mystique firmly on a list of the 100 most influential books ever written. She was past president of the organization of american historians, robinsonedwards professor emerita of history at the university of wisconsinmadison. Few books in this series have enjoyed such a direct and immediate influence on their readership. How useful to historical studies is the concept of womens oppression.
Gerda lerner, interview by nancy maclean, transcript of. One of the first was gerda lerner, who herself would later shed new light on. The official website of historian and womens studies pioneer gerda lerner, featuring her biography, selected lectures, and links for purchasing books. From the feminine mystique 1963 betty friedan statement of purpose 1966 national organization for women womens liberation has a different meaning for blacks 1970 renee ferguson for the equal rights amendment 1972 shirley chisholm the legacy. Writing history and thinking about women, she wrote in her collected essays, why. A letter written by the incorrigible muckraker jessica mitford in november 1975 contains an amusing portrait of gerda lerner, a founder of the field of womens history. From betty friedan to sonia pressman, bella abzug and gerda lerner, jewish women had. Eleanor smeal, president of the feminist majority foundation, talks with. Gerda lerner, interview by nancy maclean, transcript of video recording, september. Gerda lerner was at the beginning of her career as a historian when she wrote a letter to betty friedan critiquing the assumption of universality of experience based on gender. Mar 01, 2010 the book that changed the consciousness of a countryand the world. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Dissent daniel horowitzs betty friedan and the making. The legacy of feminist pioneer betty friedan betty friedan, a pioneer of the modern feminist movement, died saturday at 85.
Shortly after friedans book was published, lerner wrote a personal letter to. Betty naomi friedan, friedan, betty naomi friedan, betty naomi b. Jan 16, 20 a letter written by the incorrigible muckraker jessica mitford in november 1975 contains an amusing portrait of gerda lerner, a founder of the field of womens history. What betty friedan did and didnt do 7227 christian feminism. In 1947, betty married a theater producer named carl friedan.
What betty friedan did and didnt do 7227 christian. Her work propelled the stagnant womens rights movement into its second wave and helped women reclaim some equality. One of the first was gerda lerner, who herself would later shed new light on womens history through her own noteworthy scholarship and writings. This weekend in manhattan, symposiums free and open to the public include one about betty friedan s classic book and another about the theory of interior design. Daniel horowitzs betty friedan and the making of the feminine mystique rosen, ruth.
Sophia smith collection voices of feminism oral history project. Gerda lerner to betty friedan, 196341 it is a measure of the impact of gerda. Kraditor, and gerda lerner, all influenced to some degree by betty friedan and all writing in the climate created by the popular success of the feminine mystique, argued that american womens history had to be understood not only by way of events but through a prism of ideology as well. So lerner s book was a political act, an eyeopener, a treasure trove of sources, and a set of clues in the hunt for further sources. Nadell examines how world war ii and antisemitism spurred on american zionist activism which could easily be the subject of its own book. Sometimes the importance of a book goes beyond the text itself. Gerda lerner, historian, educator, and author, was born in vienna, austria, on april 30, 1920, the daughter of robert kronstein and ilona neumann kronstein. Visitors can peruse 150 digitized letters to friedan via an ipad, or listen to the outspoken author in her own words. Letter to betty friedan 1963 gerda lerner poetry is not a luxury 1977 audre lorde the female and the silence of a man 1989 june jordan from the morning after 1993 katie rolphe women dont riot 1998 ana castillo. Gerda lerner 192020, author of twelve books in womens history, was one of the founders of the field in the 1960s.
The creation of feminist consciousness gerda lerner. An extensive examination of the letters that friedan received from women may. But as i read steinems book, one name made more appearances than the rest. Historian martin seymoursmith places betty friedan s the feminine mystique firmly on a list of the 100 most influential books ever written. The feminine mystique half a century later brain pickings. Easily share your publications and get them in front of issuus.
Books by betty friedan author of the feminine mystique. It seemed to be a more moderate feminist position than her earlier work. Radcliffe institute for advanced study harvard university 10 garden street cambridge, ma 028. Among the many treats in gloria steinems new memoir my life on the road are the bevy of stories starring women who appear on. In the feminine mystique, betty friedan put a spotlight on the hidden, yet immense problems women faced during the 1950s. Feb 07, 2006 betty friedan, who died this weekend aged 85, was widely considered to be the founder of modern feminism. A few years ago, an intellectual historian uncovered the story of betty friedan s formative years as a popular front journalist and activist in the 1940s. A pioneer in womens studies and longterm activist for womens issues, and a past president of the organization of american historians, gerda lerner is one of the founders and foremost scholars of womens history. It shares that space with, among others, the bible and the koran. Betty friedan s 1963 book the feminine mystique is often credited with sparking the second wave of american feminism in the 20th century. Jun 01, 1998 the book actually got better as it went along and was fairly informative but the author took such a nasty tone against betty friedan in the early chapters that it got in the way of the reading, so it got docked a star. It was betty freidan herself, in life so far, who spoke about her life and career and told us what it was all like from the inside. Alice pauls copy of betty friedans the feminine mystique. She said her one reservation about how friedan addressed the subject was its attention solely to collegeeducated, middleclass women while ignoring less.
First shown in 28061977 if you would like to license a clip from this interview please e mail. Gerda lerner s letter to betty friedan about her book, the feminine. The feminine mystique has been credited or blamed for destroying, singlehandedly and almost overnight, the 1950s consensus that womens place was in the home. I felt your critique was a bit too hard on betty friedan and the feminine mystique. Nov 20, 20 betty friedan received thousands of letters in response to her book, the feminine mystique. American protest literature edition 1 by zoe trodd.
In the news radcliffe institute for advanced study at. Futurist alvin toffler says the book pulled the trigger on history. Born in vienna, gerda became involved in the antinazi resistance in 1938. Betty friedans feminine mystique 50 years later the new. Shortly after friedans book was published, lerner wrote a personal letter to friedan, praising the book for what it did do, while at the same time calling into question what it did not do. Gerda lerner, robinsonedwards professor of history and senior distinguished research professor at the university of wisconsin, madison, is the author of eight books, including black women in white america and the majority finds its past. The feminine mystique by betty friedan without question this book had the most impact. Lerner was already a feminist by the 1940s, but in the following. The establishment of an accurate narrative of betty friedans life, especially. The feminist majority foundation online features daily feminist news with take action ideas, domestic violence and sexual assault hotlines, a feminist career center, information on feminism including women and girls in sports and more. Lerners early articulation of the importance of race and class to gender realities shows how pioneering she was.
A history of american jewish women shows how the country. Lerner was already a feminist by the 1940s, but in the following decades her political and intellectual orientation grew and changed. Gerda lerner was just beginning her career as a historian when she wrote to betty. A documentary history compiled and edited by gerda lerner from reverence to rape. It has been called one of the most influential nonfiction books of the twentieth century.
Jul 4, 2019 letter from gerda lerner, february 1963 page 2. She escaped to the united states in 1939 and married the filmmaker carl lerner in 1941. Betty friedans most popular book is the feminine mystique. Gerda lerner s letter to betty friedan radcliffe institute. Ruth bader ginsberg, gerda lerner, betty friedan, and even emma goldman earned mentions. List of books and articles about betty friedan online.
Womens rights betty friedan interview 1977 youtube. For starters, it is an invaluable reference, the first anthology to collect and examine american literature that holds the nation to its highest ideals, castigating it when it falls short and pointing the way to a better collective future. Betty friedan received thousands of letters in response to her book, the feminine mystique. The unlikely pair had been thrown together by overlapping residencies at the rockefeller foundations bellagio center on lake como. The appeal of the new right is simply that it seems to promise that nothing will change in the domestic realm.
Friedan s findings provided a cleareyed analysis of the issues that affected womens lives in the decades after the second world war, and became the basis to her book, the feminine mystique. From betty friedan to sonia pressman, bella abzug and gerda lerner, jewish women had an outsize role in the feminist struggle. May 10, 2017 american writer, activist, and feminist speaks to mary parkinson about her early writing career. Ill start by thinking us back fifty years, to 1963, when gerda lerner began her graduate studies at columbia and betty friedan published the feminine mystique. Feb 19, 20 reading betty friedans feminine mystique for the first time, 50 years after its publication, a critic found that the book still has the power to surprise and unsettle. Shortly after friedan s book was published, lerner wrote a personal letter to friedan, praising the book for what it did do, while at the same time calling into question what it did not do. Gerda lerners letter to betty friedan gerda lerner was at the beginning of her career as a historian when she wrote a letter to betty friedan critiquing the assumption of universality of experience based on gender.
Nov 19, 20 betty friedan received thousands of letters in response to her book, the feminine mystique. Shes trying to do some of the things that are the next stage of the betty friedan revolution. The treatment of women in the movies by molly haskell. Even at the time, at least one observer, gerda lerner, raised questions about what. Alice pauls copy of betty friedans the feminine mystique, 1963. And im steve ember with people in america in voa special english. How can one best define women as a distinct group in society. Betty friedan s most popular book is the feminine mystique.
Less famous than friedan, lerner may nonetheless leave the more lasting. Gerda lerners letter to betty friedan radcliffe institute youtube. A leader in the modern womens rights movement download mp3 rightclick or optionclick the link. Indictment of the triviality and frustrations of postwar domesticity the problem with no name male supremacy. To tell the story of the book, we chose from thousands of documents. She devoted her academic lifetime to showing that women had a history, and that knowing it could alter human consciousness. Considered by many as the mother of the second wave of modern feminism, activist and writer betty friedan was one of the most influential feminist leaders of the second half of the twentieth century, a cofounder of the national organization for women now and its first president. The female and the silence of a man 1989 june jordan.
Betty friedan 1921 2006 was an american writer, activist and feminist, widely credited with starting the second wave of the womens movement in the united states with her 1963 book the feminine mystique. Betty friedan has 17 books on goodreads with 79663 ratings. Betty friedan, who died this weekend aged 85, was widely considered to be the founder of modern feminism. Us history chapter 30 betty friedan the feminine mystique. She was a powerful activist for the rights of women. Louis menand on betty friedan, the feminine mystique, and the power of the books that defined the early years of the womens movement.
Nov 27, 20 gerda lerner was at the beginning of her career as a historian when she wrote a letter to betty friedan critiquing the assumption of universality of experience based on gender. Gerda lerner was at the beginning of her career as a historian when she wrote a letter to betty friedan. Gerda lerner was at the beginning of her career as a historian when she wrote a letter to betty friedan critiquing the her assumption of universality of experience based on gender. Betty friedan, the godmother of the postwar us womens movement, was an accidental feminist. Betty friedan, the founder of the national organization for women now, famously called lesbians a lavender menace. She was born gerda kronstein in 1920 in vienna to welloff but poorly. Betty friedan s the feminine mystique, which turns 50 next month, transformed the lives of women across america. Gerda lerner was a historian of remarkable eloquence, insight, and courage. Was she really as pivotal as she thought she was, asks germaine greer. What is the relative importance of race, class, and sex. I was in college and struggling and one of my male. February 4, 1921 february 4, 2006 was an american feminist writer and activist. Lerner, a historian and pioneer of womens history, has written twelve essays on and about women making history in the nineteenth and twentieth century in the united states. As the repository of betty friedans papers, the schlesinger library is in a unique.
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