“THE FEMININE MYSTIQUE SAYS THAT THE HIGHEST VALUE AND THE ONLY COMMITMENT FOR WOMEN IS THE FULFILLMENT OF THEIR OF THEIR OWN FEMININITY. IT SAYS THAT THE GREAT MISTAKE OF WESTERN CULTURE, THROUGH MOST OF ITS HISTORY, HAS BEEN THE UNDERVALUATION OF THIS FEMININITY. IT SAYS THIS FEMININITY IS SO MYSTERIOUS AND INTUITIVE AND CLOSE TO THE CREATION AND ORIGIN OF LIFE THAT MAN-MADE SCIENCE MAY NEVER BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND IT. BUT HOWEVER SPECIAL AND DIFFERENT, IT IS IN NO WAY INFER…IOR TO THE NATURE OF MAN; IT MAY EVEN IN CERTAIN RESPECTS BE SUPERIOR. THE MISTAKE, SAYS THE MYSTIQUE, THE ROOT OF WOMEN’S TROUBLES IN THE PAST IS THAT WOMEN ENVIED MEN, WOMEN TRIED TO BE LIKE MEN, INSTEAD OF ACCEPTING THEIR OWN NATURE, WHICH CAN FIND FULFILLMENT ONLY IN SEXUAL PASSIVITY, MALE DOMINATION, AND NURTURING MATERNAL LOVE.”
– BETTY FRIEDAN (THE FEMININE MYSTIQUE)
