Essay
A* Essay on growing pressures for social change in 1963
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Overall, Source A is valuable for a historian studying the growing pressures for socialchange by 1963 because it gives an insight into the discontent felt by housewives and the
influence of Betty Fridean leading to growth in women’s activism for change. The main value
of this extract is its content and argument. For example, in the source Friedan describes the
discontent as a ‘yearning’ felt by ‘each suburban housewife’ as they question ‘is this all?’ and
a ‘strange stirring, sense of dissatisfaction’ as to whether being a housewife is all there is to
their lives. This shows that suburban housewives were collectively dissatisfied and all
wanted to do more with their lives despite being ‘freed by science and labour-saving
appliances’. Due to this, women wanted to break out of the male-dominated home however
the workplace was also heavily patriarchal.Women not only faced discontent/inequality in the
home but also in the patriarchal workplace; they were typically assigned to stereotypical
nurturing and caring roles such as teachers which women made up 80% of compared to 3%
of lawyers. Nixon’s leading administration member Daniel Moynitian also says ‘ male
dominance is so deeply a part of American life the males don’t even notice it’ showing that
prominent men also noticed the power imbalance between men and women contributing to
the growing pressures for social change. Therefore, the content and argument is valuable for
a historian studying the growing pressures for social change by 1963 as it shows the
discontent housewives felt and gives an insight into why they were applying pressure for
social change by 1963. Another value of the extract in relation to the question is its
provenance. The Feminine Mystique was a bestselling book which tapped a reservoir of
discontent in housewives and was produced to help women find their purpose in life and
share Freidan’s struggle. Heavy discontent is shown in ‘is this all’, ‘suffered’ and ‘a sense of
dissatisfaction’; Friedan appeals to her audience of white suburban housewives who clearly
felt the same way as her as the book was bestselling and resonated with millions of
American women going through similar experiences. The book’s message, which was to
share Friedan’s struggle with gender roles and discontent as a housewife, fulfilled its
purpose and helped spark widespread activism for gender equality. Therefore, the
provenance is valuable for a historian studying the growing pressures for social change by
1963 as it was a hugely influential book for women's activism and inspired American women
all over America therefore leading to growing pressures for social change by 1963. However,
the main limitation of this extract which hinders its value for a historian studying growing
pressures for social change by 1963 is its tone. Friedan carries an emotive and hyperbolic
tone which is representative of the feelings of white suburban housewives. The use of
rhetorical questions and exaggeration in ‘ Is this all?’ and ‘made the beds, stopped for
groceries’ depicts their feelings however isn’t representative of all women; black and ethnic
minority women still lived in ghettos whilst working, the African’American Myers family who
moved into Levittown in 1957 were also heavily harrased. Whilst there were growing
pressures for social change by 1963 regarding women's activism, ethnic minority women
were not included in these plans and did not share these feelings. Therefore, the tone
decreased the value for a historian studying the growing pressures for social change by
1963 as it depicts the views of white suburban housewives whilst ignoring the realities that
ethnic minority women endured. Overall, the extract is valuable for a historian studying
growing pressures for social change by 1963 as it addresses the impact The Feminine
Mystique had on women's activism and the shared discontent felt by suburban housewives
both leading to growing pressures for social change by 1963.
Overall, Extract C is valuable for a historian studying growing pressures for social change by
1963 because it gives an insight into the view of the younger generation and what they
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