More from Betty Friedan
The problem that has no name-which is simply the fact that American women are kept from growing to their full human capacities-is taking a far greater toll on the physical and mental health of our country than any known disease.
Betty FriedanBetty Friedan To protest free speech in the name of protecting women is dangerous and wrong.
Betty FriedanBetty Friedan When she stopped conforming to the conventional picture of femininity she finally began to enjoy being a woman.
Betty FriedanBetty Friedan Dominance is a burden. Most men who are honest will admit that.
Betty FriedanBetty Friedan I understood somehow my mother’s frustration. And that it was no good not only for her, but for her children or her husband, that she didn’t have a real use of her ability.
Betty FriedanBetty Friedan Each woman is made to feel it is her own cross to bear if she can’t be the perfect clone of the male superman and the perfect clone of the feminine mystique.
Betty FriedanBetty Friedan If I were a man, I would strenuously object to the assumption that women have any moral or spiritual superiority as a class.
Betty FriedanBetty Friedan Instead of fulfilling the promise of infinite orgasmic bliss, sex in the America of the feminine mystique is becoming a strangely joyless national compulsion, if not a contemptuous mockery.
Betty FriedanBetty Friedan Today the problem that has no name is how to juggle work, love, home and children.
Betty FriedanBetty Friedan A good woman is one who loves passionately, has guts, seriousness and passionate convictions, takes responsibility, and shapes society.
Betty FriedanBetty Friedan While I had been, I guess, quite brilliant, academically, in my college years, I also had been editor of the paper, and I loved that. And, that was a much more active thing. And I missed it when I was doing graduate work.
Betty FriedanBetty Friedan There is absolutely no evidence that it is harmful to children if their mother’s health, well-being and autonomy and control of her own destiny is maximized by work outside the home.
Betty FriedanBetty Friedan We need to see men and women as equal partners, but its hard to think of movies that do that. When I talk to people, they think of movies of forty-five years ago! Hepburn and Tracy!
Betty FriedanBetty Friedan When I was in high school, even in college, I didn’t have any real image of a career woman or a professional woman.
Betty FriedanBetty Friedan Who knows what women can be when they are finally free to become themselves? Who knows what women’s intelligence will contribute when it can be nourished without denying love?
Betty FriedanBetty Friedan We can no longer ignore that voice within women that says: ‘I want something more than my husband and my children and my home.’
Betty FriedanBetty Friedan
Original quotes
From our community writers
Poetry is the voice of the soul and the inspiration of the heart.
Teresa PeresTeresa Peres But it was now time for her to go away-to find someone who could show her what happiness was.
Lang LeavLang Leav Just because you haven’t seen how wonderful, beautiful, and special she is, doesn’t mean no one else will.
Norah RoseNorah Rose A memory is a star or a stain.
Aneena BijuAneena Biju Love her, but don’t forget to leave her wild.
Little PaulsonLittle Paulson Do your own thing and live your way of happiness.
Emily BockEmily Bock I’ve experienced departure far too much to have the courage and call anyone my own.
Mira R. AridiMira R. Aridi More often than I am not, all I need is the rise of my own lungs – I am already complete.
Shelby EnsignShelby Ensign
Meet the writers
More on enemy
Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy.
Isaac NewtonIsaac Newton To know your Enemy, you must become your Enemy.
Sun TzuSun Tzu Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.
Oscar WildeOscar Wilde Thus the expert in battle moves the enemy, and is not moved by him.
Sun TzuSun Tzu I choose my friends for their good looks, my acquaintances for their good characters, and my enemies for their good intellects.
Oscar WildeOscar Wilde Laughter is no enemy to learning.
Walt DisneyWalt Disney He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared.
Sun TzuSun Tzu It is a man’s own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways.
Gautama BuddhaGautama Buddha