Betty Friedan

Pioneering feminist who ignited the second-wave feminism through groundbreaking literature

Betty Friedan (1921-2006) revolutionized gender discourse in America by exposing 'the problem that has no name' in her seminal 1963 work The Feminine Mystique. As a founder of the National Organization for Women (NOW), she challenged systemic sexism through legislative campaigns for equal pay and reproductive rights.

Friedan's legacy includes:

• Co-founding NOW in 1966, which grew to 500,000+ members
• Organizing the 1970 Women's Strike for Equality involving 50,000 participants
• Pioneering the concept of 'consciousness-raising' groups

Her work fundamentally altered workplace policies, educational opportunities, and cultural perceptions of women's roles.