The Feminine Mystique | Historical Context

World War II
World War II was such a monumental event that it is commonly used as a cultural divider for the twentieth century. Friedan also cites World War II as the main impetus for the development of the feminine mystique. Throughout the book, Friedan compares many pre-war and post-war statistics and examples to support her points. For example, Friedan notes: ‘‘Fewer women in recent college graduating classes have gone on to distinguish themselves in a career or profession...

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