In 1963, Betty Friedan’s book The Feminine Mystique was a galvanizing force for the Feminist movement. Now, nearly six decades later, feminist discourse has gone through several evolutions, Betty Friedan is no longer a household name, and her radical ideas don’t sound so radical anymore. This week, Producer Gavin Scott sits down with Rachel Shteir, author of “Betty Friedan: Magnificent Disrupter”, to talk about the legacy and controversy around Betty Friedan, including how she coined the term ‘Lavender Menace.’

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Show Notes:

(00:00) - Who is Betty Friedan?
(1:35) - Why did the Feminine Mystique resonate?
(4:51) - Critiques of the Feminine Mystique
(6:25) - Creating the National Organization of Women (NOW)
(7:26) - Betty Friedan’s Early Life
(9:12) - Betty Friedan’s Perspective on Women’s Rights
(10:45) - The “Lavender Menace”
(12:18) - Marriage and Domestic Abuse
(15:25) - Legacy & Impact
(16:45) - Gavin’s closing thoughts