Getting a start in the literature of feminism

If we are to believe the bumper sticker, then “Feminism is the radical notion that women are people.” I like this definition a lot: it's broadly inclusive and carries equal amounts of “look how far we've come” and “we still have a long way to go.” I've found, however, that not everyone shares my level of respect with regard to feminism. 

When people say “feminist” in casual conversation, they're frequently referring to a woman who makes them severely uncomfortable for reasons they're not sure how else to articulate.

This attitude is frustrating, but it also makes me curious. When, where, and why did common perceptions of feminism deviate from the noble idea that I still hold dear? In order to find a few answers, I turned to my favorite investigative strategy and assembled an essential reading list. 

The first book on it was Betty Friedan's classic “The Feminine Mystique,” and it has so thoroughly captured my attention that I haven't devoted much time to any other reading since starting it.

There are plenty of things about “The Feminine Mystique” that make it incredibly valuable, both in terms of feminism and modern American culture, but I'll stick to two important ones here. First, the book's central objective is a detailed deconstruction of the so-called feminine mystique: the idea that life as a homemaker is the only possible course to fulfillment for women. 

Friedan makes extensive study of the sources of this idea and rigorously critiques their shortcomings and biases. Most notably, though, she does it all without attacking the integrity of the stay-at-home mom herself. There's never any doubt that parenting is a job worthy of considerable respect, but Friedan reminds us that it's not the only job women can do successfully, and it certainly isn't a job that anyone should be forced into by unbending tradition and gender stereotypes. As the author so succinctly puts it, “Biology isn't destiny.”

The second important facet of “The Feminine Mystique” is its accuracy and professionalism. Friedan systematically and engagingly presents the results of impressively thorough research into the nature of gender roles in American society and the result is a meticulously constructed manifesto that re-ignited sweeping, much needed social change in the U.S.

I've done a lot of excited endorsement here, and I think it's well deserved, but I'll make a quick note about one of the book's shortcomings, which is its oddly limited scope. It does an excellent job of critiquing the social situation of women in a specific set of privileged circumstances, but neglects the needs and struggles of many others. In spite of this flaw, the work is still an amazing read and much of it is still as relevant today as it was in 1963. 

While I still haven't made much progress toward figuring out the use of the word “feminist” as an insult, I can definitely suggest “The Feminine Mystique” as a starting place for anyone who's ever been afraid to call herself one.