Friedan, << free DAN, >> Betty (1921-2006), was an American writer and women’s rights activist. She was a founder of the women’s liberation movement, or the “second wave” of feminism. Friedan first gained widespread attention for The Feminine Mystique (1963). In the book, she examined the effects of societies that encourage women to be homemakers and discourage them from seeking careers outside the home.
In 1966, Friedan helped found the National Organization for Women (NOW) to fight for women’s rights. She was a leader of the 1970 Women’s Strike for Equality, which marked the 50th anniversary of woman suffrage in the United States. In 1971, she helped organize the National Women’s Political Caucus, which encourages women to seek political office.
Betty Naomi Goldstein was born on Feb. 4, 1921. She graduated from Smith College in 1942. In 1947, she married Carl Friedman, a theatrical producer, who later dropped the m from their name to make it Friedan. She wrote an autobiography, Life So Far (2000). She died on Feb. 4, 2006.
See also National Organization for Women .
