This is small part of introduction of the book: Betty Friedan, a name synonymous with the feminist movement of the 20th century, was a trailblazing writer, activist, and co-founder of the National Organization for Women (NOW). Her groundbreaking work, The Feminine Mystique, ignited a national conversation about the plight of women in post-war America, exposing the "problem that no one had a name for" – the dissatisfaction and unfulfilled aspirations of countless women trapped within the confines of domesticity.

Born Bettye Naomi Goldstein on February 4, 1921, in Peoria, Illinois, Friedan was a bright and ambitious young woman who excelled in her studies. She graduated from Smith College in 1942 with a degree in psychology, harboring dreams of a fulfilling career. However, the societal expectations of the time steered her towards a more conventional path, leading her to marry Carl Friedan in 1947 and settle into suburban life.

As a young mother, Friedan began to notice the stirrings of discontent among her peers – women who, despite their educational achievements and personal aspirations, felt confined and unfulfilled by the limited roles society had prescribed for them. This observation sparked a deep-seated curiosity within Friedan, prompting her to embark on a journey to uncover the root of this widespread discontent.