Friedan cannot stop new example. Eg Bettelheim’s other prisoners in the Dachau and you may Buchenwald, residential district lady had «learned so you can ‘adjust’ on their biological role,» had «become situated, passive, childlike,» had «abandoned its adult frame away from mention of the real time during the straight down individual amount of food and something.» Maybe the world therefore chillingly brought to life by the Bettelheim try not very different from suburbia at all.
However, there were larger issues with basing these comparisons towards Bettelheim’s site. While the Wolfe discovered of the reading biographies off Bettelheim, there were reasons to question the fresh new veracity away from his accounts. He had a track record of fabrication, you start with the newest instructional back ground that qualified your to possess his first knowledge employment, as well as plagiarism (allegedly). And many more problematically,
Bettelheim’s expert due to the fact a professional in the psychology out of extreme situations try based on his accounts from their event at Dachau and you can Buchenwald. Was basically men and women levels along with fabricated? Within sides they were. . Particularly, Bettelheim’s depiction off his other prisoners given that childlike could have been challenged, especially from the individuals who demand-that have big justice-that it was the fresh Nazis, maybe not this new Jews, who were their poor opponents. . (Since the [biographer Richard] Pollak points out, the story actually got its start that have Eugen Kogon, and you can was retold by Bettelheim.)
Since Wolfe fundamentally concludes, «The feminine Mystique talked really enough to inspire most females both at that time and since. Yet throughout the offered run new defects of book loom higher. Whether your search for a great end in was with as well far crappy testimony, the fresh public critic will eventually lose the trust of the extremely members she desires to dictate.»
Friedan observes ‘frightening ramifications for the future in our nation in the the latest parasitical softening which is becoming died into the brand new age group of children.’ Especially, she identifies ‘a current escalation in the fresh overt signs out of men homosexuality,’ and you will statements:
I really don’t imagine this is exactly not related towards federal accept of the female mystique. Towards women mystique enjoys glorified and you can perpetuated title from femininity and you can passive, childlike immaturity that’s died off mom so you’re able to son, as well as to daughters.
‘ . Which ‘murky smog’ is the last smut, the final ‘dirty word’ on the facts of one’s mystique: that brush, female outside became discover to full cover up an exceptionally naughty normally out-of worms. Selling and also the mystique was along with her leading to ‘bearded undisciplined beatnickery’ and a great ‘deterioration of the peoples character.’
Men homosexuality since stop-point of your women mystique is not just phony, a regrettable however, accidental deformation of one’s truth they overlays: it is an excellent sinister supply of cultural contaminants
Friedan actually went on so you’re able to coin the phrase «Lavender Menace» about late sixties from inside the mention of risk you to definitely lesbian feminists supposedly presented so you’re able to Now in order to the newest feminist direction just like the a complete.
But in 1977, she recognized their mistake on a ladies appointment within the Houston from the pledging assistance to have lesbian legal rights. Based on Bhaskar A. Shuka’s 2007 publication Feminism: From Mary Wollstonecraft so you can Betty Friedan, «Whenever Betty Friedan grabbed brand new microphone to help you vow the woman support 
getting brand new lesbian legal rights action, female cheered, particular cried, and all sorts of in the area, a great deal of lavender balloons rose regarding the floors, drifting triumphantly into the ceiling.»
In her own 1992 guide However In love At all This type of Many years: Females, Writing and Psychoanalysis, cultural-studies scholar Rachel Bowlby provides eloquent sound on the concern that Friedan’s guide isn’t only heteronormative but sometimes actually outright homophobic
Daniel Horowitz further difficult new book’s history together with his 1998 publication Betty Friedan and the To make of one’s Female Mystique. Involved, the guy started a startling, weirdly nothing-known facts on its publisher: She was not just who she said she was.
And Friedan plus quoted psychologist Bruno Bettelheim’s blog site throughout the their experience when you look at the Nazi quantity camps inside her section «Modern Dehumanization: The fresh Comfortable Quantity Camp.» Friedan is obvious that ladies in the You.S. had they better than the latest Nazi inmates of Holocaust, however, while the Wolfe place it,