What was the main critique raised by Betty Friedan in her landmark book?

Betty Friedan's landmark book, "The Feminine Mystique," primarily critiques the limitations placed on women in society, particularly during the 1950s and 1960s. Friedan argues that many women were denied opportunities outside the domestic sphere and were unfulfilled by the traditional roles assigned to them. She describes a pervasive dissatisfaction that many women felt, often referred to as "the problem that has no name," stemming from their confinement to domestic responsibilities and societal expectations of being solely caretakers and homemakers.

Friedan's analysis highlights how these limitations were not just personal failures but were systemic and culturally reinforced. She critiques the idealized image of women as housewives, suggesting that this glorification obscured the reality of women’s potential and aspirations. By emphasizing the need for individuality and self-fulfillment, she called for societal change to expand women’s roles beyond the home and to promote equality in both personal and professional domains.

While discussions about motherhood, the struggles of working women, and the needs of racially marginalized women are important aspects of feminist discourse, they are not the primary focus of Friedan's critique. Her work laid the foundation for understanding the broader implications of gender roles and the societal structures that limit women's identities and