I have set aside Simone de Beauvoir and Betty Friedan for now, convinced, in answer to my question, that yes, they were strong women since they were able to withstand the prevailing winds of their times, understand themselves, and fight against injustice. Though I sometimes think their emphasis is wrong, as I noted in my comments below I judge them from a rather unfair position: half a decade in the future, with a lifetime of education and independent experiences under my belt, made possible by the advances they were working towards.
I do still have a problem with their seemingly excessive need for grandeur and the regard of society, although, perhaps economic well-being follows these things and economic well-being is no small consideration, especially when one has children to care for.
No matter who we are talking about, the subject of status anxiety is an interesting one, and one of my new favorite writers Alain de Botton will soon be coming out with a new book on the subject. It promises to be an entertaining read. In fact, it looks like there’ll be a 3-part televesion documentary on the subject, broadcast in the U.K. I hope it makes its way across the ocean.
9:45:23 AM 
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