Betty Friedan

4 6.7

An American writer and activist who helped start the second wave of feminism

proper noun
/ˈbɛti frɪˈdæn/

: Betty Friedan

Betty Friedan wrote 'The Feminine Mystique' in 1963.

Examples

Betty Friedan wrote 'The Feminine Mystique', a book that challenged traditional gender roles.
The organization founded by Betty Friedan continues to advocate for women's rights today.
Betty Friedan was instrumental in sparking the second wave of feminism in the United States.
Many credit Betty Friedan with changing public attitudes about women's roles in society.
Many consider Betty Friedan a pioneer of modern feminism.
Betty Friedan was instrumental in sparking the second wave of feminism in the United States.
Many credit Betty Friedan with changing public attitudes about women's roles in society.

Surface Forms

Betty Friedan main

Morphology

betty + Friedan

This is a referential proper name for a specific person; the biographical meaning ('an American feminist, writer, activist') cannot be derived from the constituent words. Knowing 'Betty' as a female name and an unknown surname 'Friedan' gives no predictable clue to her identity or role, and proper names are typically arbitrary across languages, so learners cannot infer the meaning without prior exposure.

Etymology

Betty Friedan was an American writer who wrote the book 'The Feminine Mystique' after talking to many housewives who felt unhappy and stuck at home, and her book showed this was a wider social problem. That's why she helped start a national group to fight for women's rights and is remembered as a leader of that movement.