Friedan, Betty (Elizabeth) (1921-2006)

US liberal feminist. Her book The Feminine Mystique (1963) started the contemporary women's movement in the USA and the UK. She was a founder of the National Organization for Women (NOW) in 1966 (and its president 1966-70), the National Women's Political Caucus in 1971, and the First Women's Bank in 1973.

Born in Peoria, Illinois, her other works include It Changed My Life (1976) and The Second Stage (1981), a call for a change of direction in the movement.

Friedan also helped to organize the Women's Strike for Equality 1970 and called the First International Feminist Congress 1973.