--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The problem lay buried, unspoken, for…" description: "\"“The problem lay buried, unspoken, for many years in the minds of American women. It was a strange stirring, a sense of dissatisfaction, a yearning tha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c09/betty-friedan-3185_american-women_the-problem-lay-buried-unspoken-for-many_237785.jpg" --- # The problem lay buried, unspoken, for many years in the… ![“The problem lay buried, unspoken, for many years in the minds of American women. It was a strange stirring, a sense of dissatisfaction, a yearning that women suffered in the middle of the twentieth century in the United States. Each suburban wife struggled wit it alone. As she made the beds…” quote by Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c09/betty-friedan-3185_american-women_the-problem-lay-buried-unspoken-for-many_237785.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c09/betty-friedan-3185_american-women_the-problem-lay-buried-unspoken-for-many_237785.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c09/betty-friedan-3185_american-women_the-problem-lay-buried-unspoken-for-many_237785.jpg) > ““The problem lay buried, unspoken, for many years in the minds of American women. It was a strange stirring, a sense of dissatisfaction, a yearning that women suffered in the middle of the twentieth century in the United States. Each suburban wife struggled wit it alone. As she made the beds, shopped for groceries, matched slipcover material, ate peanut butter sandwiches with her children, chauffered Cub Scouts and Brownies, lay beside her husband at night -she was afreaid to ask even of herself the silent question- "Is this all?”” [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Women felt trapped in domestic roles, questioning whether their lives were fulfilling beyond chores and family duties. **In simple terms:** Women wondered if their lives were enough. Key Takeaway Reflect on personal fulfillment beyond societal expectations. Themes gender roles mid‑century America personal dissatisfaction Mood contemplative melancholic Type sociological reflective When to use this quote - suburban motherhood - career decisions - mental health - family dynamics Key Concepts feminist critique social conformity identity crisis Questions to Reflect On - What would you change in your daily routine? - How does society shape your sense of purpose? A Different Perspective May overlook systemic barriers that limit choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-women/) [Cub scout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cub-scout/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [Each suburban wife struggles with it alone. As she made the beds, shopped for groceries, matched slipcover material, ate peanut butter sandwiches with her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/each-suburban-wife-struggles-with-it-alone-as-she-made-the-beds/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [“I look out past the corn and the wheat and wonder how many sets of bones are buried, unspoken, keeping their stories to themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-portes/i-look-out-past-the-corn-and-the-wheat-and-wonder-how-many-sets-of/) [Andrea Portes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-portes/) > [“Gradually, without seeing it clearly for quite a while, I came to realize that something is very wrong with the way American women are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/gradually-without-seeing-it-clearly-for-quite-a-while-i-came-to/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [American women were frustrated in just the role of housewife - but they also managed to enlarge it. And they weren't just housewives, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/american-women-were-frustrated-in-just-the-role-of-housewife-but-they/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [The real joke that history played on American women is not the one that makes people snigger, with cheap Freudian sophistication, at the dead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/the-real-joke-that-history-played-on-american-women-is-not-the-one/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [When one begins to think about it, America depends rather heavily on women's passive dependence, their femininity. Femininity, if one still wants to call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/when-one-begins-to-think-about-it-america-depends-rather-heavily-on/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [The key to the trap is, of course, education. The feminine mystique has made higher education for women seem suspect, unnecessary and even dangerous.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/the-key-to-the-trap-is-of-course-education-the-feminine-mystique-has/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [The feminine mystique has succeeded in burying millions of American women alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/the-feminine-mystique-has-succeeded-in-burying-millions-of-american/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [The problem that has no name-which is simply the fact that American women are kept from growing to their full human capacities-is taking a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/the-problem-that-has-no-name-which-is-simply-the-fact-that-american/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [The suburban housewife - she was the dream image of the young American women and the envy, it was said, of women all over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/the-suburban-housewife-she-was-the-dream-image-of-the-young-american/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [We know, for instance, that there is a direct, inverse relationship between frequency of family meals and social problems. Bluntly stated, members of families…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/we-know-for-instance-that-there-is-a-direct-inverse-relationship/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [My mother was my Girl Scout leader, and George's mother was his Cub Scout leader. In fact, that's when some say her hair turned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-bush/my-mother-was-my-girl-scout-leader-and-george-s-mother-was-his-cub/) [Laura Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-bush/) > [My father also encouraged my love of nature. He urged me to become a Cub Scout, and later a Boy Scout, and I found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-begley-jr/my-father-also-encouraged-my-love-of-nature-he-urged-me-to-become-a/) [Ed Begley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-begley-jr/) > [“I'd never really been very close to other people. I was pretty much a loner. I'd played baseball and done the Cub Scout thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-alire-s-enz/i-d-never-really-been-very-close-to-other-people-i-was-pretty-much-a/) [Benjamin Alire Sáenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-alire-s-enz/) > [Actually, the only memory I have of being a Cub Scout was trying to get my hat back. That was all I did. Run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/actually-the-only-memory-i-have-of-being-a-cub-scout-was-trying-to/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) ## More by Betty Friedan > [It is easier to live life through someone else than to become complete yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/it-is-easier-to-live-life-through-someone-else-than-to-become/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [This idea that the employment of women, the movement of women outside the home into the work world, and their demand for equality is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/this-idea-that-the-employment-of-women-the-movement-of-women-outside/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [A good woman is one who loves passionately, has guts, seriousness and passionate convictions, takes responsibility, and shapes society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/a-good-woman-is-one-who-loves-passionately-has-guts-seriousness-and/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [...women who 'adjust' as housewives, who grow up wanting to be 'just a housewife,' are in as much danger as the millions who walked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/women-who-adjust-as-housewives-who-grow-up-wanting-to-be-just-a/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [You can have it all, just not all at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/you-can-have-it-all-just-not-all-at-the-same-time/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [It is easier to live through someone else than to complete yourself. The freedom to lead and plan your own life is frightening if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/it-is-easier-to-live-through-someone-else-than-to-complete-yourself/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [Protectiveness has often muffled the sound of doors closing against women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/protectiveness-has-often-muffled-the-sound-of-doors-closing-against/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [“The problem is always being the children’s mommy, or the minister’s wife and never being myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/the-problem-is-always-being-the-children-s-mommy-or-the-minister-s/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [The man who is extremely and dangerously hungry has no other interest but food. Capacities not useful for the satisfying of hunger are pushed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/the-man-who-is-extremely-and-dangerously-hungry-has-no-other-interest/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [Who knows what women can be when they are finally free to become themselves? Who knows what women's intelligence will contribute when it can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/who-knows-what-women-can-be-when-they-are-finally-free-to-become/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [If women’s role in life is limited solely to housewife/mother, it clearly ends when she can no longer bear more children and the children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/if-women-s-role-in-life-is-limited-solely-to-housewife-mother-it/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [The feminine mystique has succeeded in burying millions of American women alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/the-feminine-mystique-has-succeeded-in-burying-millions-of-american/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [I can't point to any major episodes of sexual discrimination in my early life. But I was so aware of the crime, the shame…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/i-can-t-point-to-any-major-episodes-of-sexual-discrimination-in-my/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [“The feminine mystique, elevated by Freudian theory into a scientific religion, sounded a single, overprotective, life-restricting, future-denying note for women. Girls who grew up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/the-feminine-mystique-elevated-by-freudian-theory-into-a-scientific/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [“Why should women accept this picture of a half-life, instead of a share in the whole of human destiny?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/why-should-women-accept-this-picture-of-a-half-life-instead-of-a/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) [Explore all 137 Betty Friedan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) ## More American women quotes > [The work-family divide is the biggest issue for American women. But in some ways it's amazing how adjusted society has become to it. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/the-work-family-divide-is-the-biggest-issue-for-american-women-but-in/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [The great thing about American women is their energy and the way they love to dress. French women don't really dress; they are too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-gaultier/the-great-thing-about-american-women-is-their-energy-and-the-way-they/) [Jean Paul Gaultier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-gaultier/) > [Since Bush has been in office, African-American women have fallen behind in terms of income and wages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-brazile/since-bush-has-been-in-office-african-american-women-have-fallen/) [Donna Brazile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-brazile/) > [“She was bold, and yet she was reserved. She was sensual and girlish, but she was never coy. So I think that what she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-fees/she-was-bold-and-yet-she-was-reserved-she-was-sensual-and-girlish-but/) Paul Fees > [African American women in particular have incredible buying power. Statistically, we go to the movies more than anyone. We have made Tyler Perrys career.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-nottage/african-american-women-in-particular-have-incredible-buying-power/) [Lynn Nottage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-nottage/) > [Ben Marcus has created an innovative and unflinching portrait of the turmoil of the human condition, providing the reader a most rare gift: something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myla-goldberg/ben-marcus-has-created-an-innovative-and-unflinching-portrait-of-the/) [Myla Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myla-goldberg/) > [“Americans consume more cow’s milk and its products per person than most populations in the world. So Americans should have wonderfully strong bones, right?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-colin-campbell/americans-consume-more-cow-s-milk-and-its-products-per-person-than/) [T. Colin Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-colin-campbell/) > [It's important for women to understand that it's bad enough that we don't make dollar-for-dollar what men do, but when you distill that down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-turner/it-s-important-for-women-to-understand-that-it-s-bad-enough-that-we/) [Nina Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-turner/) > [I want you to say dreadfully mad, funny things and make up songs and be--' The Will I fell in love with, she almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-want-you-to-say-dreadfully-mad-funny-things-and-make-up-songs-and/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [The hearts of Afro-American women are too warm and too large for race hatred. Long suffering has so chastened them that they are developing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-barrier-williams/the-hearts-of-afro-american-women-are-too-warm-and-too-large-for-race/) Fannie Barrier Williams > [Newsweek recently asked American women which women they admire the most, and the answer varied, actually, depending on which political party you were from...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-martin/newsweek-recently-asked-american-women-which-women-they-admire-the/) [Michel Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-martin/) > [I am an African-American woman of dark skin tone, and there are very specific roles that are usually given to African-American women of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lachanze/i-am-an-african-american-woman-of-dark-skin-tone-and-there-are-very/) [LaChanze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lachanze/) > [If our American women are going to work to put food on the table and pay for the mortgage, then we better make sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reshma-saujani/if-our-american-women-are-going-to-work-to-put-food-on-the-table-and/) [Reshma Saujani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reshma-saujani/) > [An estimated 2 million American women will be diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer this decade and screening could prevent up to 30% of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lesko/an-estimated-2-million-american-women-will-be-diagnosed-with-breast/) [Matthew Lesko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lesko/) > [I have never been more proud of the United States than I am this year. We have elected an African-American president. We have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-stockett/i-have-never-been-more-proud-of-the-united-states-than-i-am-this-year/) [Kathryn Stockett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-stockett/) [Browse all 221 American women quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-women/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The problem lay buried, unspoken, for many years in the minds of American women. It was a strange stirring, a sense of dissatisfaction, a yearning that women suffered in the middle of the twentieth century in the United States. Each suburban wife struggled wit it alone. 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