Betty Friedan, a feminist icon

One of America's most famous feminist thinkers and writers, Betty Friedan, has died at the age of 85. She was best known for her book The Feminine Mystique, which helped start the modern women's movement in the United States. This report by Lucy Williamson:

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In the book, Betty Friedan described what she called 'the problem with no name' - the frustrations felt by educated, full-time mothers. In the 1950s, America expected its women to be completely fulfilled by marriage and motherhood. The idea that women might want to achieve something outside of this startled polite society.

The book became a best-seller; and Betty Friedan a household name. Three years later, she co-founded the National Organisation for Women and served as its first president. But in the 1970s, she split from the organisation, accusing many of her contemporaries of focusing too much on lesbian issues and of equating feminism with hating men.

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impact
influence, powerful effect

campaigned for
worked for

specify
describe, name

sought
looked for

radical
extreme, supporting great social and political change

mystique
the quality of being special in a mysterious and attractive way

startled polite society
surprised and worried large numbers of people who live in a socially correct way

a household name
a very famous person that most people know of

lesbian
to do with women who are sexually attracted to other women

equating feminism with hating men
thinking of feminism and hating men as the same thing

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