Betty Friedan passed away yesterday - at the age of 85 - on her birthday. Friedan is the author of the Feminine Mystique and largely credited with the modern day feminist movement.Betty suggested that the idea that staying at home for a woman wasn't necessarily as fullfilling as the '50's made it out to be. She encouraged women to seek out thier identities outside of their families. Pretty radical stuff for her day. Plenty of people thought the entire world would collapse if her theories came to life. She made such an impact on our society that her ideas are pretty much the norm today. Women who stay home today do so because it IS what they want to do...not because they have no other social or cultural choices.
Betty made the life that most of my female friends live possible. Betty encouraged all of us to pursue our dreams...no matter what they are - CEO or CEMOM!
Of course, that wasn't her only contribution to the feminist movement, but it was one of the more radical for its time.
Good night, Betty. Thanks for living your dreams, and unlocking the feminist movement for all of us who came after you.
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