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A N Z<+Lote2svz a n z<+lote2svz no- BETTY FRIEDAN'S ROLE AS REFORMER IN THE WOMEN'S LIBERATION MOVEMENT, 1960-1970 Glenda F. Hodges Submitted to the Graduate College of Bowling Green State University in partial fulfillment of < the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY June 1980 Approved: Advisor VITA April 12, 1951...............Born - Selma, North Carolina 1972 ......................... B.A. - Virginia State College, Petersburg, Virginia 1972 - 1973 ................. Research Assistant - National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, Washington, D.C. 1975 ......................... M.A. - Howard University, Washington, D.C. 1975 - 1977 ................. Instructor, Tuskegee Institute, Tuskegee, Alabama 1977 - 1979 ................. Assistant Director, Basic Speech Course, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio FIELDS OF STUDY Major Field: Interpersonal and Public Communication Studies in Interpersonal Communication. Dr. James Wilcox Studies in Public Address. Dr. Raymond Yeager Studies in Persuasion. Dr. John Rickey Studies in Rhetoric. Dr. Donald Enholm Studies in Human Communication and Research Design. Dr. Raymond Tucker Studies in Business Management. Dr. William Hoskins Ill ABSTRACT The activities of the sixties that addressed the issue of women’s rights have been given considerable attention by historians. These activities called for justice and equality for women through legal reform. Betty Goldstein Friedan, noted women's rights advocater, has been regarded by some historians as one of the leaders that attempted to change status-quo conditions of the sixties, relative to women's equal­ ity. Friedan's publication of The Feminine Mystique, in 1963, cautioned women that they did not have to adhere to society's image that supposedly prescribed their lifestyles. Betty Friedan noted that there is often a discrepancy between what women feel they want to achieve and what society has mandated that they attempt to achieve. This "problem that has no name" has beset women of all educational and income levels and walks of life. Friedan's rhetoric challenged women to organize their efforts and mobilize for collective action by initiating a movement that would have as its goals, justice and equality for women. The temper of the times of the early sixties provided the impetus that allowed women to proclaim their outcry for equality. As founder and first president of the National Organization for Women (NOW), Betty Friedan was able to pro­ mote her moderate ideology and espouse through her speeches, the cause of women's justice and equality. The decade upon which this study focuses represents an era in which women of America forged their own theory of direct action against the establishment. It also represents a period in which Betty Friedan IV attempted to articulate the ill-defined problems of American women. Friedan's rhetorical strategies, during the decade, attempted to call for change through legal reform. As facilitator, mediator and con­ temporary rhetor, Betty Friedan gained national prominence through her efforts in the struggle for women's rights. The study seeks to examine the strategies and tactics that Friedan utilized during the women's liberation movement. Eleven of Friedan's manuscripts provide the background materials that are used for rhetori­ cal analysis. The manuscripts, obtained from the Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library at Radcliffe College, provide valuable insight relative to Friedan's particular style of speaking. Such an examina­ tion of Friedan's manuscripts will aid in determining major propositions advocated by Betty Friedan as well as assessing her impact as reformer on the.movement for women's rights. The method of,critical analysis used in this study is an assess­ ment of the text of 11 of Friedan's manuscripts relative to the follow­ ing factors: audience, occasion, purpose, major/minor propositions, strategy, attitudes toward traditional women and traditional men. This examination enhances the determination of Friedan's role as reformer in the women's rights movement. The confrontative and agitative strategies that were advocated by Friedan are given considerable attention in the s tudy. During the decade of this study, Betty Friedan challenged women to assist her in her rhetorical efforts for women's equality. She examined what she believed were the injustices accorded the sex that constitutes 53 per cent of the world's population. Friedan's abilities as a com­ V municator aided her in expressing the feelings of women of America. As a result of this ability, she became one of the leaders of the movement for women’s rights. To gain some insight into the transforma­ tion which occurred in the lives of American women from 1960 to 1970, it is necessary to critically examine Friedan’s persuasive discourse and her role as reformer as she attempted to effect change through the women’s liberation movement. vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My sincere thanks and appreciation to my friend and advisor, Dr. James R. Wilcox, for his consistent direction, assistance and understanding that have been demonstrated over the last three years of my doctoral study. I also extend thanks to the members of my dissertation committee, Dr. Donald Enholm, Dr. William Hoskins and Dr. Raymond Yeager, for their insights that caused this project to realize fruition. To my mother, I am eternally greatful for your "long distance" loyalty and support. To my four brothers and two sisters, your genuine inspiration and encouragement have made all my academic efforts worthwhile. I express my gratitude to Ms. Kathy Kraft at the Schlesinger Library at Radcliffe College, for directing me to Betty Friedan’s manuscripts. Appreciation is also extended to Ms. Sheila Hess at the National Organization for Women, Washington, D.C., for her valuable information. Thanks to Ms. Debbie Magrum for her excellent editorial and typing assistance. Most important of all, I thank God for his strength and guidance that have brought me to this point. Vil TABLE OF CONTENTS Page CHAPTER I................... ......................... 1 INTRODUCTION .................................. .. 1 Establishment of Betty Friedan as Spokesperson of Contemporary Movement ................. Z 3 Establishment of Rhetoric of Confrontation vs. Traditional Rhetoric ....................... Z 9 JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY ..................... 12 PURPOSE AND NEED FOR THE STUDY ................. 15 RESEARCH QUESTIONS ............................. 16 METHODOLOGY .................................... , 18 RESEARCH PROCEDURE . .......................... , 22 REVIEW OF LITERATURE . ........... ........ 23 CHAPTER II VARIED MEANS TOWARD A COMMON END . ............. 27 Early Feminist Movement.................................... 27 And Justice For All - Instrumental Change Agents .... 29 Sarah and Angelina Grimke............................. 29 Stone - Stanton - Anthony............................. 31 The Seneca Falls Convention - July 19 and 20, 1843 ... 34 The Civil War to 1900 35 Twentieth Century Movement ............................. 'S' 39 Early Symptoms: The Idea.................................. 41 Organization of NOW........................................ 44 Radical Women Organize .................................. 47 Vili Consciousness Raising . ............................... 49 Summary ............................... ............... 51 CHAPTER III BETTY FRIEDAN: A PARTICULAR WOMAN ...... 57 Roots.................................................. 58 Education.............................................. 60 Elementary-Secondary .......... ................... 60 College Years ............................. ... 61 Marriage and Family........................... .. 62 The Problem That Has No Name ......................... 64 Friedan of the Sixties ............................... 65 Ideas - Issues - Goals ............................. 65 Philosophy of Life....................... ............ 68 Summary ................................................ 73 CHAPTER'IV ARTICULATING A POSITION: CONFRONTATION . 78 The Pace Is Set......................... .............. 79 A Matter of Persuasion ................................ 80 Audiences: A Body of Listeners . ................... 82 Occasion-Purpose: A Time And A Reason ........ 85 Propositions - Strategies ............................. 88 Attitudes: Predispositions Toward Men and Traditional Women ...................................... 92 Rhetoric — Something Old, Something New........ .. 95 Summary ................................................ 98 IX CHAPTER V TOWARDS TOTAL RHETORICAL ACTION: THE WOMEN'S LIBERATION MOVEMENT ............................... 104 Theories of Women's Liberation ....... .......... 105 Women's Rights Feminism ............................... 106 Radical Feminism ........................................ 110 Socialist Feminism ......................... ...... 112 From Ideology to Action ..................... ..... 113 Changing the Image............................. 117 Issues and Demands............ ........................./ 120 Employment.......................................... V 120 Equal Rights Amendment................................. 121 Abortion................................................ 122 Child Care.......................................... ^123 Rape............................................ .. \f 124 Medical Self Help..................................... ^125 Friedan's Outcry for Equality........................... ^125 Summary...................................................
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