Instead of fulfilling the promise of infinite orgasmic bliss, sex in the America of the feminine mystique is becoming a strangely joyless national compulsion, if not a contemptuous mockery.

If you were very bright and you became head of a department, as I did, of the psychology department, you were encouraged to go on to graduate work. But as a women you didn't even think about discrimination.

Regardless of your age, you will always have adventures, unexpected joys and unexpected sorrows.

I have discovered that there is a crucial difference between society's image of old people and 'us' as we know and feel ourselves to be.

I just decided that I didn't want to be in the academic world, because it was [really] too easy for me at the top. But also it wasn't active enough for me.

There is absolutely no evidence that it is harmful to children if their mother's health, well-being and autonomy and control of her own destiny is maximized by work outside the home.

When she stopped conforming to the conventional picture of femininity she finally began to enjoy being a woman.