“It Changed My Life”: Writings on the Women’s Movement, With a New Introduction

In "It Changed My Life": Writings on the Women’s Movement, With a New Introduction, Betty Friedan captures the transformative power of the early feminist movement through an evocative collection of essays and personal reflections. First hitting shelves in 1976 and re-released in 1998, this seminal work delves into the tumultuous era when women fought ardently for equality in the workplace, education, and in law. Friedan's narrative weaves together the poignant stories of women who, awakened by her groundbreaking book, "The Feminine Mystique," challenged the deep-seated norms of a male-dominated society. From intimate encounters with global figures like Simone de Beauvoir and Indira Gandhi to the grassroots campaigns that led to significant legal victories such as the Equal Rights Amendment and legalized abortion, the book is a vivid tableau of a movement that redefined the fabric of society. Middle school readers will find in Friedan's journey, and those of many others, a compelling chronicle of resilience and the ongoing quest for gender and racial justice. This classic not only recounts history but invites young readers to ponder how far we have come and the distances yet to be traveled.