--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When she stopped conforming to the…" description: "\"When she stopped conforming to the conventional picture of femininity she finally began to enjoy being a woman.\" — Betty Friedan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/581/betty-friedan-3185_being-a-woman_when-she-stopped-conforming-to-the-conve_2139982.jpg" --- # When she stopped conforming to the conventional picture of… ![“When she stopped conforming to the conventional picture of femininity she finally began to enjoy being a woman.” quote by Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/581/betty-friedan-3185_being-a-woman_when-she-stopped-conforming-to-the-conve_2139982.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/581/betty-friedan-3185_being-a-woman_when-she-stopped-conforming-to-the-conve_2139982.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/581/betty-friedan-3185_being-a-woman_when-she-stopped-conforming-to-the-conve_2139982.jpg) > “When she stopped conforming to the conventional picture of femininity she finally began to enjoy being a woman.” [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. Rejecting traditional feminine norms allows women to discover authentic self-expression and joy. **In simple terms:** Breaking norms leads to true womanhood. Key Takeaway Embrace personal authenticity. Themes feminism identity gender roles self-discovery empowerment Mood inspirational reflective empowering Type philosophical advisory When to use this quote - career choices - artistic pursuits - activism - education - media representation Key Concepts social conformity personal freedom cultural expectations psychological well‑being Questions to Reflect On - How does redefining femininity affect personal happiness? - What barriers remain for women embracing non‑conventional roles? A Different Perspective Societal pressure may persist despite personal change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being a woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-a-woman/) [Femininity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/femininity/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/) ## Related quotes > [You have to enjoy being a woman. Why should being a woman be such a negative thing where you always have to improve yourself?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/you-have-to-enjoy-being-a-woman-why-should-being-a-woman-be-such-a/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [I enjoy being a woman. It's what I learned from years of experience in modeling. You learn how to seduce; how to be sensual,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laetitia-casta/i-enjoy-being-a-woman-it-s-what-i-learned-from-years-of-experience-in/) [Laetitia Casta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laetitia-casta/) > [I like looking feminine and I enjoy being a role model. I enjoy being a woman. It all comes down to having the confidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-freeman/i-like-looking-feminine-and-i-enjoy-being-a-role-model-i-enjoy-being/) [Cathy Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-freeman/) > [I love dresses best because I enjoy being a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-williams/i-love-dresses-best-because-i-enjoy-being-a-woman/) [Wendy Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-williams/) > [I don't think many people have met someone like me. I don't think the world gets to see too many women like me, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/princess-nokia/i-don-t-think-many-people-have-met-someone-like-me-i-don-t-think-the/) [Princess Nokia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/princess-nokia/) > [There is only one thing that a man really wants to do, all his life; and that is, to find his way to his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/there-is-only-one-thing-that-a-man-really-wants-to-do-all-his-life/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [Femininity doesn't always relate to being a woman and masculinity doesn't always relate to being a man; it's a quality of being-ness. Women have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamid-drake/femininity-doesn-t-always-relate-to-being-a-woman-and-masculinity/) [Hamid Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamid-drake/) > [What all the ads and all the whoreoscopes seemed to imply was that if only you were narcissistic enough, if only you took proper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/what-all-the-ads-and-all-the-whoreoscopes-seemed-to-imply-was-that-if/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [The essence of femininity is to absolutely love being a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/the-essence-of-femininity-is-to-absolutely-love-being-a-woman/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [A woman in the presence of a good man, a real man, loves being a woman. His strength allows her feminine heart to flourish.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stasi-eldredge/a-woman-in-the-presence-of-a-good-man-a-real-man-loves-being-a-woman/) [Stasi Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stasi-eldredge/) > [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/) > [One nice thing about being a woman in Hollywood is that the women tend to be very close-knit. All of us writers and directors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diablo-cody/one-nice-thing-about-being-a-woman-in-hollywood-is-that-the-women/) [Diablo Cody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diablo-cody/) > [I have said no such thing.i am only resolved to act in a way that will enhance my happiness'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/axll-sblns/i-have-said-no-such-thing-i-am-only-resolved-to-act-in-a-way-that/) AXLL\_SBLNS > [In life, something from everything will leave a mark on your heart. It might be happiness, lamentations, or both. Memories will make you the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myself/in-life-something-from-everything-will-leave-a-mark-on-your-heart-it/) Myself > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) ## 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 problem lay buried, unspoken, for many years in the minds of American women. It was a strange stirring, a sense of dissatisfaction, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/the-problem-lay-buried-unspoken-for-many-years-in-the-minds-of/) [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/) [Explore all 137 Betty Friedan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) ## More Being a woman quotes > [Forget the credit, they (male actors) take all the money as well. We don't get paid even one-third of what male actors get. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kangana-ranaut/forget-the-credit-they-male-actors-take-all-the-money-as-well-we-don/) [Kangana Ranaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kangana-ranaut/) > [In life, something from everything will leave a mark on your heart. It might be happiness, lamentations, or both. Memories will make you the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myself/in-life-something-from-everything-will-leave-a-mark-on-your-heart-it/) Myself > [I have said no such thing.i am only resolved to act in a way that will enhance my happiness'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/axll-sblns/i-have-said-no-such-thing-i-am-only-resolved-to-act-in-a-way-that/) AXLL\_SBLNS > [One nice thing about being a woman in Hollywood is that the women tend to be very close-knit. All of us writers and directors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diablo-cody/one-nice-thing-about-being-a-woman-in-hollywood-is-that-the-women/) [Diablo Cody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diablo-cody/) > [I don't claim to be a good woman, but I do claim to be good at being a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne/i-don-t-claim-to-be-a-good-woman-but-i-do-claim-to-be-good-at-being-a/) Suzanne > [I think loads of women have this idea that their life is going to start at some point, once they've busted all these problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-moran/i-think-loads-of-women-have-this-idea-that-their-life-is-going-to/) [Caitlin Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-moran/) > [You're not insulting my character. Being a woman, especially in this business, it's so thrilling to get to do that. It's so rare, especially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keri-russell/you-re-not-insulting-my-character-being-a-woman-especially-in-this/) [Keri Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keri-russell/) > [According to the Western model, pregnancy is a disease, menopause is a disease, and even getting pregnant is a disease. Dangerous drugs and devices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-seaman/according-to-the-western-model-pregnancy-is-a-disease-menopause-is-a/) Barbara Seaman > [A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melinda-gates/a-woman-with-a-voice-is-by-definition-a-strong-woman-but-the-search/) [Melinda Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melinda-gates/) > [A woman's place isn't above her man or beneath her man it's beside her man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/a-woman-s-place-isn-t-above-her-man-or-beneath-her-man-it-s-beside/) [SONYA PARKER](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Being a woman is interesting, but it shouldn’t stop you from being a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mildred-h-mcafee/being-a-woman-is-interesting-but-it-shouldn-t-stop-you-from-being-a/) Mildred H. McAfee > [This is a movement to say we're more than just our dresses. ... It's hard being a woman in Hollywood or any industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reese-witherspoon/this-is-a-movement-to-say-we-re-more-than-just-our-dresses-it-s-hard/) [Reese Witherspoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reese-witherspoon/) > [Be the kind of man you'd like your son to become, the kind of man you would love your daughter to marry for life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-the-kind-of-man-you-d-like-your-son-to-become-the-kind-of-man-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The saddest thing in the world is when two people, who at one time knew everything about one another, act like strangers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farahjayne809/the-saddest-thing-in-the-world-is-when-two-people-who-at-one-time/) Farahjayne809 > [“Breastfeeding is a beautiful thing, one of the most beautiful things that exist in nature. Think about how a woman can literally feed her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/breastfeeding-is-a-beautiful-thing-one-of-the-most-beautiful-things/) [C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/) [Browse all 433 Being a woman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-a-woman/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When she stopped conforming to the conventional picture of femininity she finally began to enjoy being a woman.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Betty Friedan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/when-she-stopped-conforming-to-the-conventional-picture-of-femininity/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Being a woman" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/when-she-stopped-conforming-to-the-conventional-picture-of-femininity/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/581/betty-friedan-3185_being-a-woman_when-she-stopped-conforming-to-the-conve_2139982.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/581/betty-friedan-3185_being-a-woman_when-she-stopped-conforming-to-the-conve_2139982.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/581/betty-friedan-3185_being-a-woman_when-she-stopped-conforming-to-the-conve_2139982.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When she stopped conforming to the conventional picture of femininity she finally began to enjoy being a…” — Betty Friedan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Betty Friedan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When she stopped conforming to the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/when-she-stopped-conforming-to-the-conventional-picture-of-femininity/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/when-she-stopped-conforming-to-the-conventional-picture-of-femininity/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```