Feminism: The Graduate and Betty Freidan

Education is what causes women to be unhappy with their roles as housewives. Betty Freidan is a writer who describes how society felt about women in The Feminine Mystique: "The Problem That Has No Name". In Mike Nichols The Graduate, this is proven true, as educated women such as Mrs. Robinson and Elaine are unhappy with the housewife role. "Some" would explain Mrs. Robinson's behavior in the Graduate as predictable, as she is an educated woman unhappy in her role as housewife.

The 1950s and the 1960s were two very distinct eras. The 1950s wore the stigma of "businessman, housewife, kids" (Alice Paul) as an iron-clad armor. This is a staunch contrast to the 1960s, a completely malleable and different society. "Some" would say that this "problem" occurred because education was growing among females. This change, or "problem", was occurring because feminist associated the Civil Rights act of 1964 ban on racial discrimination to apply to gender discrimination as well. As the Civil Rights act formed its way into society, it became evident that it did have a strong effect on women. Mrs. Robinson was raised in The 30s, 40s, and early 50s, while Elaine was raised in the late 50s and 60s. It is evident that a change in society has occurred, as the way Elaine and Mrs. Robinson deal with marriage are completely different. Once Mrs. Robinson got pregnant, she felt that "it's too late" and lived her life being with a man and living in a home that she did not want to be in. Elaine had a different mentality, asserting that the 1950s stigma of housewife and kids was "NOT FOR ME!" The way society was at these different time periods reflect the actions taken by Elaine and Mrs. Robinson. Elaine felt that she should be able to do as pleased her, because in the 1960s society was changing, while Mrs. Robinson felt that she was stuck into marriage due to her pregnancy; the common 1950s mindset. This strongly supports the notion of "some" that education brings about this unhappiness in the 1950s roles. Education among women had been growing at an astronomical pace since the women got the right to vote a few decades earlier. The only link missing in the chain for change was something huge that women could use; and this came about in the Civil Rights act of 1964.

Mrs. Robinson makes it clear throughout the movie that she regrets letting her education go to waste. Going from "I don't like art" to "I studied art in college" in a matter of minutes shows that this was a sore-spot on Mrs. Robinson's mind. As education grew among women, more and more females came to realize that they were taking the same classes and getting the same results as males. Women began to ponder "if we are equal in the classroom, why not be equal in the other aspects of life?"(Alice Paul). Even with her education, Mrs. Robinson still became trapped in the linear lifestyle that the 40s and 50s provided to women. With the passing of the Civil Rights Act, women had just as much power within the government as males did; so why was society still different? Men forced the idea that women didn't belong in the workplace because it had been the paradigm for years. Since the beginning of recorded history women had taken second place to men in society. The only noticeable changes from all other times to the 60s was that women were receiving more and more education, and by 1964 women had recognize that they should have every right a male citizen should have. Education, as "some" would say, naturally makes women unhappy in their roles as housewives because it shows how genders play no role in results. If both men and women take and pass the same classes in college, men and women deserved the same job after college. "Some" wondered why women couldn't accept their roles gracefully, when the answer was right in front of them; education.

Mrs. Robinson's unhappiness manifests itself within her actions in the movie. As she realizes the change from the 50s, to the 60s, new ideas pop into her head. She understands that women have just as many rights as men do, and applies this to her life. Mrs. Robinson begins to assert her to Ben, almost forcing him to stay so that she can seduce him. This completely negates the mindset of the 1950s that women are supposed to bow to their superiors (men). Her change in actions came about because she became increasingly unhappy in her role as housewife. "Some" would say that this change was because of women's education. While some would ask the question "Doesn't she know how lucky she is to be women?" the better question for this era would be "Doesn't she know how lucky she is to live in these times?" The time period that Mrs. Robinson was in allowed her to assert herself and make actions that a decade ago would bring her the shame of every single male and female (without education). Mrs. Robinson forced her on Ben and attempts to keep him away from Elaine for underlying reasons. While Mrs. Robinson may have wanted Ben for herself, she really wanted to keep him to herself in order to prove that she could assert herself and get what she wanted. Ironically, Ben moving on to Elaine shows the women could assert themselves, as Elaine pushes her mom away at the ceremony in order to run away with Ben. The transition of Elaine between men reflects the transition of society. Mrs. Robinson tries to keep her in the old society (the man she was set to marry), while Elaine shows that she is a human of a new era by running away with Ben.

Mrs. Robinson is a woman who is unhappy in her role as housewife, as "some" would say is due to her education. The change of society from the 1950s to the 1960s brought about change in the mindset of women in that era. Education is the foundation for women being unhappy as it shows that women are just as capable in society as men are. This unhappiness led to Mrs. Robinson taking actions that would normally belong to men; assertive and controlling. The change in society came about because as more and more women became educated, more and more women realized that they should be able to do anything a man could.

IMDB, The Graduate

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061722/

Betty Friedan's "The Feminine Mystique: "The Problem That Has No Name"

http://www.h-net.org/~hst203/documents/friedan1.html