6.3.9 Legal Equality and Overcoming Oppression (Betty Friedan)

Introduction to Betty Friedan

• Betty Friedan (1921-2006):
  • Betty Friedan was a leading figure in the feminist movement and an influential advocate for women's rights, particularly in the context of liberal feminism. Her work, most notably The Feminine Mystique (1963), sparked widespread awareness of the challenges faced by women in mid-20th century America and laid the groundwork for the second wave of feminism.
  • Friedan's activism centered on challenging the social and legal structures that confined women to domestic roles and advocating for the full legal equality of women, particularly in the workplace, education, and public life.

Legal Equality and Women's Capabilities

• Equality in Capability:
  • Friedan argued that women are just as capable as men in all spheres of life, including intellectual, professional, and public arenas. She challenged the prevailing social norms and legal restrictions that limited women's opportunities, asserting that these were based on outdated and discriminatory views of women's abilities.
  • Her perspective aligned with liberalism's emphasis on individual rights and equality, arguing that women should have the same legal rights and opportunities as men to pursue their ambitions and talents.
• Overturning Oppressive Laws:
  • Friedan believed that legal equality was essential for women to achieve true freedom and independence. She advocated for the removal of laws and policies that discriminated against women, such as those that restricted their access to certain jobs, limited their educational opportunities, or enforced unequal pay.
  • She also argued that legal reforms were necessary to dismantle the structural barriers that perpetuated gender inequality. This included advocating for legislation that protected women's rights in the workplace, such as the Equal Pay Act, and policies that supported women's participation in public life and higher education.
  • She was also a strong proponent of raising awareness and actively pushed for legislative changes to combat gender inequality.
  • Her approach to the challenges faced by women exemplifies the liberal feminist perspective on achieving female emancipation. Despite the male dominance in the political arena, Friedan and like-minded advocates believed that there is ample opportunity within the existing system for women to further the feminist cause.

Challenging Social Views and Norms

• Breaking the "Feminine Mystique":
  • In The Feminine Mystique, Friedan famously described the "problem that has no name"—the widespread dissatisfaction among women who were confined to the roles of housewives and mothers, despite being capable of much more. She argued that this dissatisfaction stemmed from the social expectation that women's primary role was in the home, rather than in the public or professional spheres.
  • Friedan's work was a call to action to challenge and overturn these oppressive social norms, which she saw as being reinforced by both legal structures and cultural attitudes. She argued that women should not be defined by their domestic roles but should be free to pursue their own careers and ambitions.
• Advocacy for Social Change:
  • Friedan recognized that legal equality alone was not sufficient; it needed to be accompanied by a change in social attitudes. She advocated for a cultural shift that would recognize women's full capabilities and allow them to participate equally in all aspects of society.
  • This included challenging stereotypes about gender roles and advocating for the representation of women in all areas of public life, from politics to business. Friedan believed that by changing both the laws and the social attitudes that oppressed women, true gender equality could be achieved.

Impact on Liberal Feminism

• Legal Reforms:
  • Friedan's advocacy for legal equality played a significant role in shaping the agenda of the feminist movement during the 1960s and 1970s. Her work contributed to significant legal reforms that aimed to eliminate gender discrimination, such as the passing of the Equal Pay Act (1963) and the Civil Rights Act (1964) in the United States, which included provisions against gender discrimination.
  • Friedan was also a co-founder of the National Organization for Women (NOW) in 1966, which became a leading force in advocating for women's rights and legal equality. NOW focused on pushing for legal changes that would secure equal opportunities for women in all areas of life.
• Legacy in Modern Liberalism:
  • Friedan's work is a cornerstone of liberal feminism, which emphasizes the importance of achieving legal and social equality for women within the framework of a liberal democratic society. Her insistence that women are as capable as men and that the law must reflect this equality continues to influence contemporary discussions about gender equality.
  • The principles that Friedan championed—legal equality, the overturning of oppressive laws, and the challenge to restrictive social norms—remain central to the ongoing struggle for gender equality and are echoed in contemporary liberal feminist movements.