The Personality of Betty Friedman - Essay Example

BETTY FRIEDAN It is a reality beyond suspicion that the world has witnessed some great personalities in every era, which have strived hard by performing heroic deeds to bring revolutionary changes by dint of their extraordinary talent and qualities of head and heart, as well as with the help of their unabated passion and sonorous courage to work for the uplift of their community, class, culture or society. An overwhelming majority of such personalities win name, fame and sound reputation, because people realize their services and appreciate their devotion. On the other hand, there are also few outstanding personalities, whose names remain concealed and hidden under the pile of ignorance for years, and only limited number of people is familiar with the wonderful performances made by these exceptional personalities. Betty Friedman is also one among those forgotten persons, whose accomplishments have not been acknowledged by the masses as yet, because a large proportion of masses is unaware of her services rendered for the cause of women all over the world. Before embarking upon the topic, it would be advisable to introduce Betty Friedan. Born and brought up in the USA, Betty Friedan is one of the most enduring feminist activists of contemporary times, whose works and efforts have been confined to her specific circle of her friends and companions only. It was Betty Friedan, who brought the problems and difficulties, faced by women, to the limelight, and worked day-in and day-out to win equal status for them. Betty Friedan is universally regarded as one of the founding mothers of feminisms Second Wave. In The Feminine Mystique, published in 1963, Friedan aimed to expose the sexist underpinnings of Americas post-World War II complacent prosperity. Friedan argued that millions of American housewives found the destiny of mother and housewife which society mapped out for them stifling, repressive and even dehumanizing. (Boucher, 2003) Hence, Friedan serves as the torch-bearer of the protection of feminist rights and privileges at equal level to those of male stratum of society, who fought against the female exploitation at the hands of male dominating set of society at global level. She not only pointed out the problems faced by women including wife battering, discouragement while seeking jobs and working in a competitive atmosphere with men and sexual exploitation and harassment of the female folk, but also wrote essays, books, articles and poems for the projection of feminist cause before the world. In addition, she also infused new ray of hope in the members of her community regarding resisting the undue influence and malpractices committed by dominating male stratum. While making an analysis of the history of the world at large, it comes to the account that social groups are not only divided into divergent religious, ethnic, cultural and racial groups, but also distribution of a society is based on age, gender and socioeconomic status too. Social inequalities are found in all fields of life and in all the institutions prevailing in a society. In this pretext, the Feminist perspective theory came into existence. The Marxist’s thought of division of labor on the basis of gender gave birth to the feminist perspective, which serves as a powerful reaction against the widespread injustices and malpractices has been being inflicted by men upon the members of the delicate sex i.e. women in respect of social status, division of power as well as work and gender discrimination. The activists and pioneers, who brought the implication of women’s involvement in the social construction programs to the public eye, were declared as insurgents as well as noninterventionists and Marxists consequently. With the passage of time, these theorists got the title of Feminists. One of the most leading causes of people’s unawareness regarding the services made by Friedan was her rejection of affiliating feminism with lesbianism. Friedan belonged to the school of thought, who looked for the liberation of women from the cruel clutches of male tyranny; she never favored female sexual attractions towards the members of same sex. Hence, she sought her root in earliest wave of feminism, where the feminist leaders focused on winning equal status for women. Though the feminist perspective and movement for feminist liberty and equality obtained recognition during the second half of twentieth century, the thrashing about to win equal status for women had started by the mid of eighteenth century, where the women were undergoing oppression and repression at the hands of men. Nineteenth century witnessed imperative improvements in this regard, where the prejudice against women and hatred of men towards the achievements of men started declining to some extent. During the early period of century, women were inflicted with biased behavior from male stratum and they underwent severe restrictions and limitations while exercising their abilities. Female social workers, artists, writers, novelists and poets were disheartened and condemned during the course of offering their services and producing their works even. It is therefore the celebrated artists, writers and novelists including Bronte sisters, Mary Evans Ann (George Eliot) and others had to write in alternate pen names to hide and conceal their real as well as feminine identity. However, Victorian literature contained the magnificent works of female writers in a significant proportion, but the social atmosphere was not substantial altogether. The dividend of women in social structure had not been acknowledged, although they used to render their services in fields, hospitals, teaching institutes and other professions. Still the male domination was oppressive and tyrannical. At first, Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902) in 19th century and Emma Goldman in the beginning of 20th century raised her voice in the United States for the women rights. Other feminist theorists including Patricia Hill Collins and others launched campaign for their rights in the later half of 20th century and demanded that women too should have been the same rights as had been delegated to men. (Khalid, 2006) Historically, radical feminism started with the assumption that the sexes are adversarially poised, that men have power over women, and that society and its various social relationships can be best understood in terms of their relationship to that situation (Eisenstein 1983). The situation was very unfavorable for Betty Friedan; on the one side, she had to combat with the male opposition and on the other side, there were lesbian feminists to create obstacles. But she remained as firm and dauntless as rock in the face of hardships. She established an organization under the title “National Organization for Women” (NOW) and the National Abortion Rights Action League. (Retrieved from.pbs.org) She bravely submitted that since Nature has created both the genders on equal foundations, neither the male stratum nor the government had any right to subjugate women stratum by imposing restrictions on them on the one hand, and imply prejudiced behavior towards the members of delicate sex on the other. She challenged the absolute authority enjoyed by men, depriving the women from their liberty as well as the freedom of speech, action, behavior, writing and seeking happiness and pleasure within the legal bounds. If any stratum of society, including the individuals at the helm of the government even, attempts to challenge any just and true rights related to a particular group or community of society, it is the obligation of every member of society to strive for the elimination of such banishments. Friedan has lamented on the pathetic situation the women undergo at homes and offices. She is of the view that women are suppressed within the four walls of home, and are divorced whenever man is fed up of his wife. Similarly, all the lucrative jobs and employment opportunities has been specified for men, and women are not allowed to display their worth in different professions and fields of life including occupational, sports and recreational activities. The male stratum has captured all the political, social, cultural, religious, educational, health and economic offices, and women seldom found their place even at a low status position of these public and private offices. All these efforts were sufficient to infuriate the male population, which only promoted and projected the lesbian feminists rather acknowledging the services of the true and devoted feminist i.e. Betty Friedan. Distinguished feminist writer and activist, Dorothy Allison, who raised her voice against child molestation and violence against the women, has also very courageously submitted the sensitive case before the world and brought to the limelight how small girls especially from the lower stratum of society, experience improper environment quite harmful for their neuro-cognitive development due to manhandling, maltreatment and unjust behavior of their family members, teachers, neighbors and other community members since their childhood. Friedan also belongs to the same school of thought and has been declared as the leader of the second wave of feminist perspective. Since she was the most active, sincere and loyal with her community, the rival forces do not allow the true leaders to win applause and encouragement. One of the most important causes of Betty’s little projection in the world is this that she remained confined to the problems of housewives only. She laid her concentration upon cruelties and manhandling exercised upon the married wives. Since working women are more dynamic, active and thrilling, they maintain more abilities to convince and communicate the message of their leader in a more powerful way. Moreover, women activists also have wide range of opportunities to appear in the fields for the demonstration of their cause. It is therefore the world remained reluctant in acknowledging the magnificent services made by her, though she was one of the greatest feminist activists the world has ever produced. She was a giant in the 20th century for women and most significantly was a catalyst for change in the American culture, and defined the problem, and then she had the courage to do something about it. (Eleanor Smeal: quoted in Sullivan, 2006) REFERENCES: Boucher, Joanne. Betty Friedan and the Radical Past of Liberal Feminism From New Politics, vol. 9, no. 3 (new series), whole no. 35, Summer 2003 (Quoted in http://www.wpunj.edu/~newpol/issue35/boucher35.htm) Allison, Dorothy. Survival is Least of My Desires. An Extract from “Skin: Talking About Sex, Class & Literature. Firebrand Books, 2005. Chowdhury, Najma. Redefining Politics: Patterns of Women’s Political Engagement from a Global Perspective." Women and Politics Worldwide. New Haven: Yale University Press. 1994 Eisenstein, H. Radical Feminism, Humanism And Womens Studies. Volume 14. 1983 Stanton, Elizabeth Cady. Declaration of Sentiments and Resolution: 1848 Sullivan, Patricia. Voice of Feminisms Second Wave Washington Post Staff Writer Sunday, February 5, 2006 (Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/04/AR2006020401385.html) http://www.pbs.org/fmc/interviews/friedan.htm Read More