Rise of feminine pronouns mark societal upheaval
In the opening pages of “The Feminine Mystique,” Betty Friedan consciously captured the despair of so many housewives — and unknowingly anticipated a shift in language that would mirror the revolution to come in women’s lives.
“As she made the beds, shopped for groceries, matched slipcover material, ate peanut butter sandwiches with her children, chauffeured Cub Scouts and Brownies, lay beside her husband at night,” Friedan wrote in her 1963 book, “she was afraid to ask even of herself the silent question — ‘Is this all?’ “
The average reader might catch such “Mad Men” details as “matched slipcover material.” But a linguist or psychologist will be keeping score: “She” and “her” each are used twice; “herself” once. Not a single “he,” his” or “himself” appears.
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