Advanced Placement US History (AP US History) Practice Exam

The influential book "The Feminine Mystique" was authored by Betty Friedan, who played a crucial role in the feminist movement during the 1960s. Published in 1963, the book challenged the traditional roles of women in American society and sparked widespread discussion about women's rights, gender roles, and the expectations placed on women as homemakers. Friedan's work highlighted the dissatisfaction many women felt in their domestic lives and is often credited with igniting the second wave of feminism in the United States. Her analysis of the "problem that has no name" resonated with countless women, leading to significant social and political changes regarding gender equality.

Understanding Friedan's contributions is essential to grasping the broader context of feminist thought and activism during this period. While other figures, such as Gloria Steinem and Simone de Beauvoir, also made significant contributions to feminist theory and activism, it was Friedan's specific focus on the American housewife's experiences that brought national attention to women's issues at the time. Virginia Woolf, although an important literary figure and feminist thinker in her own right, wrote in a different era, contributing more to early 20th-century feminist discourse rather than the modern feminist movement that Friedan's work helped cataly