This anniversary exhibition of Betty Friedan’s groundbreaking text extracts examples from the book to be used as the basis for student response. The curators have selected specific quotes, objects, advertisements and articles referenced in Friedan’s text to demonstrate Friedan’s perspective. Her reaction to the world of 1950s America – through material and societal culture – built the foundation for her argument against the patriarchal society in which she lived. This exhibition seeks to explore Friedan’s text from a contemporary lens in an effort to both honor the text – argued by many to be the catalyst of second-wave feminism in America – and to provide critical analysis half a century after its publication.

The exhibition is curated by Natalie Balthrop and Deborah Engel, graduates of Parsons’ Masters degree in the History of Decorative Arts and Design (2012).

The Feminine Mystique at 50 symposium
February 22-23
Theresa Lang Student and Community Center, 55 W 13th St., 2nd Fl.
Registration is required. For more information and to register, please click here