What role did betty friedan's book, the feminine mystique, play in the development of second-wave feminism? it raised awareness among women that they still faced significant hurdles to equality. it explained how men were able to maintain their dominance over politics and business. it showed women how they could end gender discrimination by excelling at uniquely feminine pursuits. it provided a basis for establishing affirmative action programs to overcome legal and economic inequalities?

I believe the answer is: it showed women how they could end gender discrimination by excelling at uniquely feminine pursuits.

by the time of its writing, war occurred much more often compared to current time, a field in which women had a clear disadvantage compared to men. The feminine mystique conveys that rather than competing against men in the field where women are disadvantage, women had to focus on the field where they had a natural advantage at, which is the field that require social interactions.