What social issue does "The Feminine Mystique," published in 1963, primarily address?

"The Feminine Mystique," published by Betty Friedan in 1963, primarily addresses the dissatisfaction of the middle-class housewife. This landmark work critiques the societal expectation that fulfillment for women came exclusively from home life, marriage, and motherhood. Friedan describes how many women, despite living in affluence and comfort, experienced a sense of unfulfillment, isolation, and lack of identity outside the roles prescribed to them by society.

The book's exploration of this issue sparked widespread discussion and awareness about women's rights and helped ignite the second wave of feminism in the United States. Friedan's argument was revolutionary, as it challenged the notion that women should derive happiness purely from domesticity and instead encouraged them to seek personal and professional fulfillment.

This focus on middle-class women's experiences distinguished "The Feminine Mystique" from other social issues of the time, such as economic disparity, racial inequality, or issues within the criminal justice system, which are not the primary concerns of the text. By highlighting the discontent felt by many women in conventional roles, Friedan provided a critical lens through which broader feminist discourse could evolve.