Betty Londergan: “The Two Sides of Betty Friedan: Feminist Icon & Complicated Woman” [] PEN International San Miguel Center
Event Category: Presentations/Discussions
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San Miguel PEN 2020 Winter Lecture
Betty Londergan
“The Two Sides of Betty Friedan:
Feminist Icon & Complicated Woman”Tue, Jan 28, 6:30pm
In English and Spanish
Bellas Artes Second Floor Auditorium
Hernandez Macias 75150 pesos / People under 25 & Migrants Free
Betty Friedan: How a Difficult Woman Changed the World
By Signe Hammer
Where would women—and men—be today without Betty Friedan? Her 1963 book, The Feminine Mystique, exposed the malaise afflicting millions of American women trapped by the cultural enforcement of the postwar myth of feminine domestic fulfillment. Her book ignited second-wave feminism and changed our lives: “Rarely” points out her New York Times obituary, “has a single book been responsible for such sweeping, tumultuous and continuing social transformation.”
On Tuesday, Jan 28, at 6:30 PM in the second-floor auditorium of the Bellas Artes, Betty Londergan, author of the forthcoming book, Who the Hell is Betty Friedan? will explore—with wit and a light touch—both Friedan’s importance in the pantheon of feminist thinkers and activists and her fascinating, contradictory character.
Betty Friedan was an American original. Dynamic, compelling and indomitable, she went on to start the National Organization for Women, NARAL, and the National Women’s Political Caucus. But she was also notoriously difficult, wickedly volatile, and embroiled in a destructive, abusive marriage. The contradictions she embodied are with us today, when “difficult” women do things like run for president.
Betty Londergan, a former advertising creative director, is the author of two books on the tragicomedy of motherhood—I’m Too Sexy for My Volvo: A Mom’s Guide to Staying Fabulous, and The Agony & The Agony: How to Raise a Teenager Without Losing Your Mind—and of two popular blogs—What Gives 365, about giving away $100/day for 365 days to causes she believed were making the world a better place; and Heifer 12×12, a 12-month global journey visiting the poverty-alleviating projects of Heifer International in 18 developing countries. She is married to a university president and loves to travel, hike, read and garden.
San Miguel PEN is a chapter of PEN International, the organization of writers that fights for freedom of expression around the world. The 150-peso admission helps fund local activities and includes a free glass of wine with dinner afterwards at Vivali’s, across the street at Hernandez Macias 66. Tickets at Ticket Central in the Biblioteca or at the door. For more information, visit sanmiguelpen.com.
Spanish / Español
Conferencia de invierno 2020 del PEN de San Miguel
Betty Londergan
“Los dos lados de Betty Friedan: ícono feminista y mujer difícil”
Martes, 28 de enero, 6:30 p.m.
En inglés y español
Auditorio del segundo piso de Bellas Artes
Hernandez Macias 75
150 pesos / menores de 25 y migrantes gratis
Betty Friedan: Cómo una mujer difícil cambió el mundo
Por Signe Hammer
¿Dónde estarían las mujeres —y los hombres— hoy en día sin Betty Friedan? Su libro de 1963, La mística femenina, expone el malestar que afecta a millones de mujeres estadounidenses atrapadas por la imposición cultural de la realización doméstica femenina, un mito de la postguerra. Su libro encendió el feminismo de la segunda ola y cambió nuestras vidas: “Rara vez” señala su obituario en el New York Times, “un solo libro ha sido responsable de tal transformación social radical, tumultuosa y continua”.
El martes, 28 de enero a las 6:30 p.m. en el auditorio del segundo piso de Bellas Artes, Betty Londergan, autora del próximo libro ¿Quién demonios es Betty Friedan? explorará —con ingenio y un toque ligero— tanto la importancia de Friedan en el panteón de las pensadoras y activistas feministas, como su fascinante y contradictorio carácter.
Betty Friedan era una estadounidense original. Dinámica, convincente e indomable, ella inició la Organización Nacional de Mujeres, la Liga Nacional de Acción por el Derecho al Aborto (NARAL) y la Asamblea Política Nacional de Mujeres. Pero ella también era notablemente difícil, terriblemente volátil y estaba envuelta en un matrimonio destructivo y abusivo. Las contradicciones que ella representa están con nosotros ahora, cuando las mujeres “difíciles” hacen cosas como postularse a la presidencia.
Betty Londergan, una exdirectora creativa de publicidad, es la autora de dos libros sobre la tragicomedia de la maternidad —Soy demasiado sexy para mi volvo: la guía de una madre para mantenerse fabulosa, y La agonía y la agonía: cómo criar a un adolescente sin perder la cabeza—, además de dos blogs populares —Lo que dan 365, acerca de dar $100 dólares al día por 365 días a casusas que ella creía que harían del mundo un lugar mejor; y Vaquita 12×12, un viaje global de 12 meses visitando los proyectos del Heifer Internacional que mitigan la pobreza en 18 países en desarrollo. Está casada con un presidente de universidad y le encanta viajar, caminar, leer y la jardinería.
El PEN de San Miguel es un centro del PEN Internacional, la organización de escritores que lucha por la libertad de expresión en todo el mundo. El precio de admisión de 150 pesos ayuda a realizar actividades locales e incluye una copa de vino gratis con su cena después del evento en Vívali, enfrente en Hernandez Macias 66. Boletos en Ticket Central en la Biblioteca Púbica o antes del evento en la entrada del auditorio. Para más información visite sanmiguelpen.com.
PEN International San Miguel Center
The San Miguel de Allende, Mexico centre of PEN International, a worldwide association of writers fighting for freedom of expression
San Miguel PEN, one of the 145 centers of PEN International, the worldwide association of writers with centers in 104 countries, exists to promote friendship and intellectual cooperation among writers everywhere, fight for freedom of expression and represent the conscience of world literature. San Miguel PEN is in San Miguel de Allende, in the middle of Mexico on the high plateau. It was created in 1979 as a center for English-speaking writers in Latin America in hopes of unifying the English and Spanish linguistic communities within PEN. San Miguel PEN promotes the Spanish language in all its work.Our Programs:
The PEN Writers in Prison Committee has been a focus of the San Miguel center for over 20 years. In 2002 San Miguel hosted the PEN Writers in Prison Committee’s international conference. This work involves answering countless calls for emergency action to aid those in legal trouble for their writing, including prison and threats of death. San Miguel PEN is also active in International PEN’s Women Writers Committee, its Translation and Linguistic Rights Committee, and the PEN Iberoamerican Foundation (a regional organization). San Miguel PEN sponsors local literary programs and a local scholarship program that helps Mexican children with limited financial resources stay in school. It participates in major Mexican literary events, such as the enormous yearly Feria Internacional del Libro in Guadalajara. PEN members travel at their own expense to represent the group at the United Nations and at international conferences. San Miguel PEN sponsors an annual Winter Lecture Series to fund local activities and help support the international organization. Contact us HERE.
Mailing Address:San Miguel PEN Center Apdo. 287 37700 San Miguel de Allende, GTO Mexico -
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