--- product_id: 199620 title: "The Feminine Mystique" price: "A$35" currency: AUD in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.com.au/products/199620-the-feminine-mystique store_origin: AU region: Australia --- # 50+ years of cultural impact 4.6/5 rating from 2,147 readers Classic feminist manifesto The Feminine Mystique **Price:** A$35 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > 📖 Unlock the blueprint of modern feminism — because true leadership starts with understanding history. ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Feminine Mystique - **How much does it cost?** A$35 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.com.au](https://www.desertcart.com.au/products/199620-the-feminine-mystique) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Rich Historical Context:** Gain perspective on post-war America’s social fabric and the roots of gender-based repression. - • **Timeless Feminist Insight:** Dive into the groundbreaking 1963 manifesto that sparked a revolution in women’s rights and societal roles. - • **Curated Anniversary Edition:** Includes exclusive afterword by Anna Quindlen and introduction by Gail Collins, adding fresh contemporary viewpoints. - • **Enduring Cultural Relevance:** Explore themes still resonating today, from gender roles to systemic inequality, making it a must-read for modern leaders. - • **Highly Acclaimed & Influential:** Ranked top 15 in Feminist Theory and Sociology of Marriage & Family with stellar reviews from thousands of readers. ## Overview The Feminine Mystique is Betty Friedan’s seminal 1963 work that exposed the societal constraints limiting women’s potential, igniting the second-wave feminist movement. This used copy in good condition offers a 50th-anniversary edition featuring new insights by Anna Quindlen and Gail Collins. With a 4.6-star rating from over 2,000 readers and top rankings in feminist and sociological categories, it remains a vital read for anyone committed to gender equality and social progress. ## Description "If you’ve never read it, read it now." ―Arianna Huffington, O, The Oprah Magazine Landmark, groundbreaking, classic―these adjectives barely do justice to the pioneering vision and lasting impact of The Feminine Mystique . Published in 1963, it gave a pitch-perfect description of “the problem that has no name”: the insidious beliefs and institutions that undermined women’s confidence in their intellectual capabilities and kept them in the home. Writing in a time when the average woman first married in her teens and 60 percent of women students dropped out of college to marry, Betty Friedan captured the frustrations and thwarted ambitions of a generation and showed women how they could reclaim their lives. Part social chronicle, part manifesto, The Feminine Mystique is filled with fascinating anecdotes and interviews as well as insights that continue to inspire. This 50th–anniversary edition features an afterword by best-selling author Anna Quindlen as well as a new introduction by Gail Collins. Review: Era defining feminist manifesto - The clear, forceful, and inspirational words that document the means of repression of women that came to fruition in the post-war era of the 1940s and 1950s. Friedan’s work stands out today as a clear historical record of what was and what could be again and should never be. Certainly, women’s right to lead a fulfilling and happy life like any man, continues to be a battleground in many parts of the world, but the progress sparked by Friedan and her subsequent work pushed the battle line in the right direction. The book outlines the post-war societal enshrinement of the “feminine mystique", an image of women that perpetuated the idea that true fulfillment for women could only be found through their dedication to housework, marriage, and raising children. Friedan argues that this limited point of view was the root cause of the rise of depression, related forms of mental illness, and substance abuse in women and that placing limits on any segment of society was holding back that society as a whole. Structurally, she places the blame on capitalistic exploitation of women’s desire to find fulfillment in a role that was sexualized and intellectually limited, on religion for perpetuating a structure that keeps women in a servant role, and on a legal structure that allows corporations to make hiring and salary distinctions purely on gender. That’s just a sample - there’s so much more. The work is not done. The feminine mystique persists today, and though lessened in potency, still holds many women back from becoming the most fulfilled versions of themselves. I read The Bell Jar ahead of reading this book to sample the brilliance and beauty of Sylvia Plath’s writing and to witness a woman crushed by the injustice inflicted on women during the postwar era. The combination of these books read back to back brings home the tragedy that befell a generation of women who were shackled by the trappings of the feminine mystique. Review: A surprisingly relevant classic - Beautifully written and insightful, The Feminine Mystique is also surprisingly relevant 60 years after it was published. Betty Friedan’s exasperation with women being treated as if “biology were destiny” will feel very contemporary when, for example, a debate about abolishing no-fault divorce is brought up in the news. Each chapter can be read mostly on its own. Some of the discussion will feel dated (such as her critique of Freudian psychoanalysis). But most of it will feel alive and kicking today. She is writing at the peak of the baby boom and sees it as a mixed blessing. Man this is a great book. ## Features - Used Book in Good Condition ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #15,559 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #8 in Sociology of Marriage & Family (Books) #11 in Feminist Theory (Books) #15 in General Gender Studies | | Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 2,147 Reviews | ## Images ![The Feminine Mystique - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61wZxAr6AwL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Era defining feminist manifesto *by L***R on November 21, 2025* The clear, forceful, and inspirational words that document the means of repression of women that came to fruition in the post-war era of the 1940s and 1950s. Friedan’s work stands out today as a clear historical record of what was and what could be again and should never be. Certainly, women’s right to lead a fulfilling and happy life like any man, continues to be a battleground in many parts of the world, but the progress sparked by Friedan and her subsequent work pushed the battle line in the right direction. The book outlines the post-war societal enshrinement of the “feminine mystique", an image of women that perpetuated the idea that true fulfillment for women could only be found through their dedication to housework, marriage, and raising children. Friedan argues that this limited point of view was the root cause of the rise of depression, related forms of mental illness, and substance abuse in women and that placing limits on any segment of society was holding back that society as a whole. Structurally, she places the blame on capitalistic exploitation of women’s desire to find fulfillment in a role that was sexualized and intellectually limited, on religion for perpetuating a structure that keeps women in a servant role, and on a legal structure that allows corporations to make hiring and salary distinctions purely on gender. That’s just a sample - there’s so much more. The work is not done. The feminine mystique persists today, and though lessened in potency, still holds many women back from becoming the most fulfilled versions of themselves. I read The Bell Jar ahead of reading this book to sample the brilliance and beauty of Sylvia Plath’s writing and to witness a woman crushed by the injustice inflicted on women during the postwar era. The combination of these books read back to back brings home the tragedy that befell a generation of women who were shackled by the trappings of the feminine mystique. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A surprisingly relevant classic *by A***N on August 24, 2024* Beautifully written and insightful, The Feminine Mystique is also surprisingly relevant 60 years after it was published. Betty Friedan’s exasperation with women being treated as if “biology were destiny” will feel very contemporary when, for example, a debate about abolishing no-fault divorce is brought up in the news. Each chapter can be read mostly on its own. Some of the discussion will feel dated (such as her critique of Freudian psychoanalysis). But most of it will feel alive and kicking today. She is writing at the peak of the baby boom and sees it as a mixed blessing. Man this is a great book. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A classic and a must read *by C***D on July 5, 2025* A classic, and a must read for every feminist! I bought this book for a book club. I bought the actual book and also the audiobook read by Parker Posey. It was interesting to discuss what has changed and what rights we are still fighting for. ## Frequently Bought Together - The Feminine Mystique - The Bell Jar (Modern Classics) - The Handmaid's Tale --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.com.au/products/199620-the-feminine-mystique](https://www.desertcart.com.au/products/199620-the-feminine-mystique) --- *Product available on Desertcart Australia* *Store origin: AU* *Last updated: 2026-06-14*