Chapter 9, The Sexual Sell Summary

Friedan began to put the pieces of the puzzle together, but felt she was missing a piece. There needed to be an element that powered the mystique. She realized the important role women serve as housewives, which is in buying things for the house. Women are the chief consumers in America, responsible for seventy five percent of all purchases. While Friedan does not accuse the advertising world of a vast conspiracy, they did capitalize on the move home and encourage women to stay there.

Friedan spoke to a man who earned nearly one million dollars in 1963 for manipulating the emotions of women for businesses. He allowed her to look at many studies conducted and the advertising that resulted from the findings. Women were divided into three categories, the true Housewife, The Career Woman and the Balanced Homemaker...