This should be required reading for everyone, male or female, young or old. I was floored by how relevant it is to modern society, even though I'm that feminist that's pretty distressed by women who say "I'm not a feminist" and especially "I'm not a feminist because I think the feminist movement's work is done." I originally picked it up as a place to start in feminist reading, something to brief me on the background of feminism, and wasn't expecting it to have much to offer a modern feminist, but reading a book published in the 1960s and seeing how relevant it is in 2012 is a pretty good wake up call. Yeah, career women aren't demonized (though I have seen women called "heartless" for having careers and not being stay at home moms... hmm, perhaps the Mystique remains a little more than we think?) and it's possible for women to have careers and progress in said careers, but there's just so much in here that rings true. How come my family members are always pestering me about getting married and having kids? Because that's all we're supposed to want as women, careers and interests are secondary. It might not be as prevalent and as forced as in the 60s, but it's definitely there in the disguise of concerned family members wanting you to get on the "road to happiness". (by the way, this book has a pretty good summary of pre-1960s feminist movement that I was looking for. Mostly in the section talking about the stereotypes of feminists, but a good quick overview that's a pretty good place to start from, I think.)The only part I'll disagree with is the little bit on homosexuality of men, which is briefly mentioned around page 260-270ish, which claims that men turn to homosexuality as a product of overbearing mothers and not being allowed to mature, therefore gay people are actually immature persons. No. Sorry. I mean this is from the 1960s and about feminism, not gay rights, so I really shouldn't expect too much, but I couldn't help being disappointed by that little segment, and kind of wish Betty Friedan hadn't mentioned it at all.