A review by inquiry_from_an_anti_library
The Second Stage: With a New Introduction by Betty Friedan

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

Is This An Overview?

The first stage was about women getting power parity with men.  Showing that women can do more than just be housewives.  But as women entered the workforce, there was a clash between work and family.  Between work and any other pursuits.  The second stage is about the changing roles of work and family, to find better alternative ways on how to be.  The second stage is about reconciling demands of independence with emotional needs. 

Women and men need each other for emotional, financial, and other needs.  When someone is dependent on someone else, psychological insecurities develop that make any relationship difficult.  Those who lack independence, tend to lack confidence in themselves, and take out their frustrations on the one they are dependent on.  When a woman performed many household tasks and participated in supporting the man’s ambition, women did not receive the monetary benefits or recognition for their efforts, while the men could not function without the support.  When the man was the sole monetary earner, the man was extremely anxious about job prospects, forcing them to stay at terrible jobs.  When men and women share the monetary, family, and emotional burdens, they have higher chances of economic survival and live more fulfilling lives. 

 

Caveats?

This is a sensitive topic that shares the complexity of the situation.  The second stage came about through new demands on social and economic life that needed a response.  As society changes, so must the responses.  Each society, each era, need to find their own responses to their different situations.

There are passages with various diverse perspectives that provide evidence for claims.  They can provide addition explanations, but can lack a systemic analysis.