Bettye Naomi Goldstein was born on February 4th,1921. Bettye's father owned a successful jewelry store and her mom used to work as an editor of a local newspaper which she gave up to care for her family's needs. Bettye changed her name to Betty before she started at Smith College where she studied psychology and worked as an editor of the college newspaper. Betty graduated Summa Cum Laude from Smith College in 1942. She continued to write articles that focused on women's rights. Betty went on to continue her education at The University of California majoring in psychology for one year before relocating to New York while working as a newspaper reporter. In 1947 Betty married Carl Friedan, a summer stock worker. During her first pregnancy, Betty was able to maintain being a mother, wife, and a newspaper editor. When Betty became pregnant with her second child she was forced to leave her job. Betty then become a stereotypical, 1950's housewife: she cooked, cleaned, and portrayed herself as having no ambitions. Betty had a third child but continued to work as a freelance writer to accompany her husband's income.
In 1957, Smith College had a class reunion and Betty attended. While in attendance, she surveyed her former classmates to see how satisfied they were with their lives. She found out nobody was really happy with where they were: housewives. She took the information from the survey and turned it into The Feminine Mystique!
In 1957, Smith College had a class reunion and Betty attended. While in attendance, she surveyed her former classmates to see how satisfied they were with their lives. She found out nobody was really happy with where they were: housewives. She took the information from the survey and turned it into The Feminine Mystique!