By Claudia Fernandez, Summer 2023 Power in Place Collaborator
Image: Library of Congress
Dear Mrs. Betty Friedan,
I would like to introduce myself, my name is Claudia Fernandez, and I am a student at Wake Forest University, studying Politics and International affairs. I am writing in regard to your impact on not only American history in the 1960s but ongoing as a feminist activist and writer. The 1960s was a decade marked by significant social and cultural upheaval, with activism playing a central role. A wave of activism swept the United States and other parts of the world, as people came together to protest against social, political, and economic issues. You were one of the most important individuals within the Women’s Liberation Movement and I would like to commend you for that achievement as well as highlight some of the ideas you brought forth to society. Not only did they implement change in the 1960s, but they laid the foundation for further strides to be taken years later for women’s rights.
Following a questionnaire given to a few of your women peers asking about their life satisfaction, you quickly became aware of the problems women were facing, yet remained silent about. Despite having achieved political equality through the nineteenth amendment in 1920, by large standards, women were far from equal to men. You came to the forefront of the second-wave feminist movement by championing equal pay in the workplace, ending sexual harassment in the workplace, and legalizing abortion.
Perhaps your most renowned achievement was the publication of The Feminine Mystique in 1963, serving as a catalyst for the movement and empowering women to become involved in activism and demand change. Your book questioned the previously accepted notion that a women’s role in life was to be a domestic housewife, there to assist with the needs of one’s children and husband. Your argument that gender stereotypes translated into men and women taking traditional roles in society and rarely straying from such. By highlighting the dissatisfaction that women were facing, and their lack of ability to achieve their full potential, you were able to bring about ideas to not only men who dominated control in society but also women who weren’t able to understand their abilities outside of domestic responsibilities otherwise. Your words were able to depict the climate surrounding women during the time period, particularly through the statement, "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," in The Feminine Mystique. It goes without saying that your words helped galvanize the women's movement and set the stage for feminist activism.
In terms of achievements your activism was able to contribute to, one of the most important was increased opportunities for women. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited the discrimination of women in the workplace and the Equal Pay Act of 1963 requires employers to pay women the same wages they pay men for the same job. This legislation not only gave women greater opportunities on paper but also started the societal shift away from traditional gender roles. Additionally, your contributions to the ongoing fight for women’s reproductive rights were of equal importance. In 1973, the Supreme Court passed its decision that American citizens were entitled to their right to choose to have an abortion. This in combination with the recent legalization of the birth control pill allowed women to pursue an education or career without the fear of pregnancies interrupting their plans. In 1966, alongside other women's rights advocates, Pauli Murray and Mary Eastwood, you formed the National Organization for Women. As a formal voice for women, you were able to reach more individuals and gain greater traction in the fight for equal pay laws and other women’s issues. From marching through the nation’s capital to lobbying politicians, you were relentless in your efforts to achieve greater social and legislative norms and expectations for women.
With the utmost respect, I would like to acknowledge the potential for greater inclusion concerning the diversity of women. I understand that the political and social climate at the time was less conducive to supporting white women and their individual rights, let alone those of African American women and other minorities, however in the fight for an equitable society in which all citizens are offered the same opportunities and freedoms, no individual should be excluded based off of their race, ethnicity, or background. Being an educated, middle-class woman, you experienced a degree of privilege other women were not afforded. With this privilege, you were able to attain a platform to speak on behalf of women everywhere, yet many women such as those in the LGBTQ+ community, those of color, or those in marginalized groups were excluded from the conversation. Many of these individuals held unique experiences and challenges which were unable to be voiced. However, I am well aware of the difficulties you amongst other activists faced in the efforts you were already making and I would like to inform you of the further progress which has been made on the women’s rights movement front since the 1960s.
At my University, a small private school in North Carolina, tremendous progress has come about in the past decades. From studying the standards of conduct from the 1960s-70s, it is evident that women were still relatively under the constraints of a patriarchal society. From strict dress codes to social conduct rules, curfews, and more, women were to follow the guidelines of the Women’s Government Association handbook. Wake Forest University has actively made efforts to increase gender equality with the establishment of the Women’s Center in 2013 and providing greater equality in the admissions process. On a larger, national scale, the feminist movement continues to inspire women and men to fight for equality amongst gender and is far more inclusive to minorities and marginalized communities. Despite some recent regressions made in terms of women’s reproductive rights in the United States, the fight continues, and with figureheads such as yourself to guide them, people will continue to have the courage to demand change.
Your impact on history is immeasurable, and your legacy continues to inspire new generations of women to fight for their rights and to work toward a world in which gender equality is a reality for all. Your work was and continues to be, a beacon of hope and a source of inspiration for women everywhere. Ultimately I would like to thank you for your unwavering commitment to women’s rights and your invaluable contributions to the feminist movement. Your impact will continue to inspire future generations to stand up for what they believe in and take action for such.
Yours truly, Claudia Fernandez
References
[1] “Betty Friedan.” History.Com, www.history.com/topics/womens-history/betty-friedan. Accessed 11 July 2023.
[2] Magazine, Smithsonian. “The Powerful, Complicated Legacy of Betty Friedan’s ‘The Feminine Mystique.’” Smithsonian.Com, 4 Feb. 2021, www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/powerful-complicated-legacy-betty-friedans-feminine-mystique-180976931/.
[3] Michals, Edited by Debra. “Biography: Betty Friedan.” National Women’s History Museum, www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/betty-friedan. Accessed 11 July 2023.
Claudia Fernandez is a rising Senior at Wake Forest University studying a major in Politics and International Affairs with a minor in Italian. She is interested in politics and economics and hopes to pursue a career in law. On campus Claudia is a member of the Women in Politics club which aims to encourage more women college students to pursue careers in politics or further their participation.