Community Honors Anniversary of Great Peoria Author
By: Eugene Daniel
Updated: February 19, 2013
PEORIA - The community
is celebrating the anniversary of a book and author that sparked the feminist
movement.
A packed house gathered
at the Peoria Riverfront Museum to honor the legacy of Peoria great, Betty Friedan.
Tuesday marks the 50th anniversary of her book, The Feminine Mystique, which changed history for women across the
world.
The event featured
several speakers and an impersonator of Friedan. Peoria City Council member
Barbara Van Auken says Friedan's legacy cannot be overlooked. And she hopes
young women recognize how much she contributed and how many doors she opened.
"And the things
you take for granted, I'm so happy you can do that. But take a moment to
remember it wasn't always this good," she said.
The Feminine Mystique was published on February 19th, 1963, and
is known as one of the most influential books ever written.
Friedan was a Peoria High
grad who died in 2006.
