Topics for Further Study
- Investigate recent studies on female fertility and analyze how the results may influence women who aspire to balance a career and family life.
- Examine statistics on househusbands—fathers who opt to leave their careers to stay home and care for their children. Compare the mental and physical impacts on these fathers with those on mothers as described in Friedan's The Feminine Mystique. Discuss potential reasons for any similarities or differences observed.
- Create a table with two columns. In the first column, list the major changes Friedan advocated for women in the 1960s, as outlined in ‘‘A New Life Plan for Women,’’ the final chapter of The Feminine Mystique. In the second column, note the current laws or social changes that have realized Friedan's vision. Discuss any changes Friedan proposed that have not yet occurred, including historical, economic, or social reasons that may explain the delay.
- Research the modern women's movement and the Civil Rights movement in the United States during the 1960s. Discuss how these two movements influenced each other.
- Explore the extensive history of women's fight for equality in the United States. Construct a timeline of significant events in this struggle. Select one prominent feminist from any period in this history, other than Friedan, and write a biography about her.
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