Boy moms and Nazi POWs: how "The Feminine Mystique" changed feminism

Betty Friedan thought Korean POWs were dying in captivity because their mothers were housewives. She thought boy moms were making their sons gay. She wrote a whole chapter comparing suburban kitchens to concentration camps — in 1963, while America was still processing what concentration camps actually were. "The Feminine Mystique" is one of those important books that everyone "knows" but no one has actually read. For today's episode of The Argument podcast, Matthew Yglesias and Jerusalem Demsas read and review the book that kicked off second-wave feminism. 0:00-Introduction to The Feminine Mystique9:02-Psychotherapy, Mad Men, and Marxist origins20:02-The true drivers of social change30:52-Famous books with massive effects35:07-The most insane parts of The Feminine Mystique47:33-The female happiness paradox51:34-Rating the book’s success56:54-Peer Review: Health benefits of WW2 sugar rationing?New episodes post every Thursday.For an ad-free version, show notes, and full transcript, subscribe at TheArgumentMag.com. Support the Show: Get a full transcript, show notes, and an ad-free version: TheArgumentMag.com New episodes every Thursday—subscribe so you never miss a debate!The Argument is produced by Justin Zuckerman, fact-checked by Eli Richman, with music by Breakmaster Cylinder and art by Ben Tousley.