Female Manifesto Analysis

Valerie Solanos, author of SCUM Manifesto and Betty Friedrich, author of The Feminine Mystique, were not notable authors for their work in the second wave feminism. Although the subject both authors discuss in their work is not the same and both authors have different viewpoint in sexuality, they both have underlying similarities. Both Solanos and Friedrich agree that a women should have her own identity and their viewpoint on men. In SCUM Manifesto, Solano persuades the female reader into believing that secretly men are passive and want to become women. Therefore, they usurped a women’s creativity, energy and vitality in order to fulfill their void they have of not being a female. For that reason, women should stand her ground to avoid having a men steal her “identity”. Friedman, similarly, touches upon this subject when talking about the “problem that has no name”. Although she is not encouraging female readers to leaver their husbands, she encourages women to create their own “identity” by performing activities outside of their household. One way or another, both authors are sending the message that women are their own person and they should strive to reach their own potential.
This identity concept is also discussed in the book, The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir.
He theorizes that men fundamentally oppress women by characterizing them , as “the other”. Man occupies the role of itself and the women is the object. Once again, women, once married, have no identity. This identity exploration also dips into Anne Koedt 1970’s article, Myth of the Vaginal Orgasm. In this piece, Koedt describes how women are able to reach orgasm,however, this has been a taboo subject since the social view of sex is for the men’s pleasure not the women. When the women are able to awaken their sexual desire and refine their sexuality, they are able to find their own
identity. In The Feminie Mystique, Friedan explores on the problem that housewives have on feeling unfulfilled with their lives. According to the author, the root of cause of this taboo problem is men. The man made ideal concept that women should stay content by staying at home and performing all the domestic duties that created a false illusion for women. Solano also shares this belief. As the title of her book gives it away, Solano believes that all men are at fault for all problems women face. Their constant oppression to devalue women and wanting to have total control of the world is enough reason for women to unite and “kill all men” that do not share the same belief as them. Feminist works on the second wave differed in their concept, however, most of them such as SCUM Manifesto, The Feminine Mystique, The Second sex and Myth of the vagina orgasm , wether direct or indirect, wanted women to find themselves and for SCUM and Feminine Mystique, to stand their ground. Both authors also shared their viewpoint that men was the root of cause for women’s problems.