Feb 5, 2006, 11:18 GMT
Washington - Author and pioneering feminist Betty Friedan, 85, died Saturday at her home in Washington of congestive heart failure, a family spokeswoman announced.
Her first book, 1963's 'The Feminine Mystique,' helped fuel the modern movement for women's rights in the United States. Friedan co- founded the leading National Organization for Women (NOW) in 1966 and helped start other groups organizing for abortion rights and women in politics.
In the best-selling 'The Feminine Mystique,' Friedan described the frustrations of education, middle-class women expected to forego careers to be housewives in post-war American society.
She 'opened women's eyes,' NOW President Kim Gandy said in a statement. 'Betty recognized a longing in the women of her generation, a longing for something more ? opportunity, recognition, fulfilment, success, a chance to live their own dreams beyond the narrow definition of 'womanhood' that had limited their lives.'
Later in life, Friedan remained involved in a wide variety of leftist causes and in recent years was an activist against age discrimination.
Saturday was her 85th birthday. She is survived by three children from her marriage, which ended in 1969.
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