A Woman's Path to Liberation

February 15, 1963

I have just finished reading The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan. It is a completely revolutionary text. Living through only your husband and children's' lives will end up a frustrating mess for everyone involved. Pursuing interests outside of your spouse and kids is crucial to remind yourself that you are your own person outside of their sphere. I don't personally feel like my marriage is a concentration camp, but the deep-seated unhappiness in marriage that Betty talks about is definitely there. James and I aren't really married anyways. We live two completely separate lives where every once in a while James tries to assert dominance over me. I want to reach out to Betty Friedan and to other Feminists around America, to see if I can do more.

April 12, 1963

I desperately want to go to Harvard to see Alice Rossi speak on "Equality Between the Sexes". The meeting of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences is next week, but I know that James won't allow me to drive 12 hours there to see the conference. Sometimes I wish that I would have met Janice before I made the mistake of getting married. I could have found an ally like her husband and be in New York with her right now fighting.

John informed me that the new offices will be opening next month. I guess I am too busy to go see Alice anyways. I'm not even finished with my semester.

May 2, 1963

They called her a monster! An "unnatural woman and an unfit mother!" I can't believe it! Alice is none of those things! Parity of the sexes is essential! I have been reading her early work on abortion and reproductive rights and it is enlightening. I am not one to ever get an abortion or think that anyone ever should, but I can see why women should have that right. I have written a letter thanking Alice for her work and letting her know the impact it has had on me and my small group. Hopefully she will respond.

Speaking of responses, Betty Friedan herself wrote back to me! I am so excited to be involved in the fight for equality.

One last thing – The new offices in Ashland and Akron opened yesterday. John said that we have already sold 14,000 copies with our debut "Ask a Woman" story. It turns out that many people had already heard of or read our work before it officially came to their cities. John was so happy that he picked me up and spun me around. My heart felt a flutter. He apologized for letting his enthusiasm get the best of him, but I didn't mind. The group has renegotiated our contract to be 4¢ for every copy sold over 13,000. Considering we have sold more than our quota in one day, I'm thinking our coffers are going to be full by the end of the month.

June 1, 1963

John cut us a check for $720 today. I have never seen so much money in my life. We had 28,000 copies sold this month! My percentage has dropped down to 40 with all the new recruits that our group has been getting since the opening, but if this much money is coming in... what does it matter! $288 added to my pot which is now overflowing. I am going to have to find a new place to stash my money.

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