"The Feminine Mystique" is a groundbreaking book written by Betty Friedan and published in 1963. It explores the dissatisfaction of many American women in the post-World War II era, highlighting how societal expectations confined them to domestic roles. Friedan argues that these limitations stifled women's potential and contributed to widespread unhappiness. The book is credited with sparking the second wave of feminism in the United States, encouraging women to seek fulfillment beyond traditional roles. It challenges the notion that a woman's identity should be solely tied to marriage and motherhood, advocating for greater opportunities in education and the workforce.