Analysis Of The Second Sex By Simone De Beauvoir

All throughout history women of all race have been portrayed as creatures whose opinions, feelings, and goals never mattered in this androcentric world. Although women have moved up in the equality ladder to some extended, women still have a longs ways to go when it comes down to real equal rights. So what is equal right to be exact? Well in a feminist perspective equal rights means both men and women have equal access within the workplace, freedom from oppressive gender stereotyping. Many might say that women have equal rights, given the fact that after the

It may be possible to imagine a place where no one would make a fuss over the differences between a white or a black man, but unfortunately, it is likely impossible to imagine a society that would not comment on the differences between a man and a woman (Heinämaa, 127). Simone de Beauvoir was quite determined to give society a glimpse into what it meant to be a woman within her time period, and did so by writing her novel The Second Sex which brought many controversial topics to light. There are four concepts I will be mentioning in different sections of this paper, and it is best to know how Beauvoir personally defines these terms. Firstly, “alienation” refers to the action of projecting oneself into a different person or object, thereby losing all responsibility for yourself (Moi,

De Beauvoir’s “Woman as Other” lays out an elaborate argument on gender inequality; using the term “other” to establish woman’s alternate, lesser important role throughout her work, the author dissects and examines from its origin the female’s secondary position in society in contrast to man. Indeed, from the beginning of recorded history, the duality of man, by definition, positions woman at the opposing end of the spectrum in relation to her male counterpart. Even by today’s modern and accepting standards, the female suffers under the brand of being the sub-standard half of the duality equation; compared to her male opponent, women are paid lower wages, have fewer and limited expression of rights, achieve lower

In the chapter of her book The Second Sex entitled “the Woman in Love,” Simone de Beauvoir characterizes the romantic ideal of the relationship with a man as a woman’s purpose as a form of self-deception (translated here as “bad faith”). The self-deception de Beauvoir describes is based in the thesis of The Second Sex. This is the idea that women have been deceived into believing that they are second-class humans. Western culture, according to de Beauvoir, teaches us that women are missing some elusive element of the self that endows men with freedom- a concept essential to the existentialist definition of the conscious being. Therefore, a woman can never find fulfillment as a thinking person as

Even in the very beginning of her text, we sense hesitance on Beauvoir’s part as she, herself, states that,“for a long time i have hesitated to write a book on woman. The subject is irritating, especially to women; and it is not new. Enough ink has been spilled in quarreling over feminism, and perhaps we should say no more about it” (Beauvoir, 1949: 13) This hesitance over a subject puts an important question put forward by Beauvoir; “But does the world woman, then, have no specific content?” (Beauvoir, 1949:14)

In chapter twelve of the textbook titled The Moral of the Story we are faced with theories of feminism that we encounter on an everyday basis. The issue on feminism is one that has been fought for by both men and woman for many years and yet still seems to be an ongoing battle to achieve full gender equality. I personally feel that gender equality is important in this world because I for myself have met women in my life who I not only look up to but who have also inspired me to keep moving forward in my journey of life. In this paper I will describe all four feministic theories as well as to why I support feminism as a whole. I will also compare the similarities as well as differences of these theories as well as to which theory I tend to see more of on a day-to-day basis.

Simone Lucie Ernestine Marie Bertrand de Beauvoir, more commonly known as Simone de Beauvoir, was a French writer, intellectual, existentialist philosopher, and political activist, feminist and social theorist. She was born to a respected bourgeois family in Raspail in Paris. During the early years of her life Beauvoir managed to complete her bachelorette in mathematics and philosophy. Later in life, Beauvoir met and shared her life with Jean Paul Sartre. Beauvoir was not the writer of one but many literary works that had a profound influence on many readers and other feminist thinkers. Some of her best works include, L'Amérique au jour de jour (America Day by Day), which talks about the social problems, class inequalities and racial problems

With reference to Simone de Beauvoir and Betty Freidan discuss the issues that were central to second wave feminism.

Throughout history women have not been given proper recognition for their insight in the field of psychology. They were simply labeled as “Other.” Simone de Beauvoir, philosopher examines the concepts of woman and in relation to the larger concepts of humanity. She concludes that women’s status is not simply a matter of definition, but a fundamental way of thinking that has political consequences. What is a Woman? This question may seem to be rudimentary, but when thought about women are the foundation for life. Women are more than their uterus, or an imperfect man. It was believed that women were made from man’s image, Adam and Eve.

The first text we explore in this step is Bonaventure’s “On Seeing God in his Image”. Bonaventure shows us that through inward reflection we can see God. God can then lead us to God’s two most important laws, and the best ways for us to live in community with others; by loving God, and our neighbors.

Throughout history, women have constantly been objectified and forced into submission by the male dominated society. Simone de Beauvoir’s philosophical work, The Second Sex, echoes the intense oppression of women and reflects the first wave feminist movement. Her existentialist decoding of genders resulted in the idea of the Other, which explores the phenomenon of women forced into the role of an object, while men are the subject. In the second chapter, “The Girl”, Beauvoir further studies the idea of this oppression during one’s transition from a girl into a woman. Beauvoir states that no matter how much freedom and sense of self a girl holds, she is always forced into the role of the Other in society. Beauvoir 's idea of the Other held

Beauvoir uses this information to explain why a man may see females as inferior (due to their weaker physical form). However, she does not justify a female’s subordinate role to that of a man in society. In fact, Beauvoir brings up the point that female oppression is not caused by biological differences, but rather by teachings. Nurture overrides nature.

Simone De Beauvoir in The Second Sex suggests that to resolve the tension between bad faith and authenticity, people must regard women as subjects and not objects. They must also collectively fight against the idea of womanhood in order to remain authentic to themselves.

Bibliography:Simone de Beauvoir (1972)Quote: "One is not born a woman, but rather becomes one"Charter, David (30 April, 2008)The Press, ChristchurchB2 "Pop singer steps in for pregnant MP"The Times (30 April, 2008) The Press, ChristchurchB2 "Photos 'meant to be artsy'"Haworth, Abigail (May 2008) Marie Claire magazine, pg 82"From Russia...With Lust"Kimmel, Michael (2008) The Gendered Society, Third Edition, New York:Oxford University Press. Chapter 2, pgs 25 & 53West, Candace and Zimmerman, Don (

Simone de Beauvoir, in her 1949 text The Second Sex, examines the problems faced by women in Western society. She argues that women are subjugated, oppressed, and made to be inferior to males – simply by virtue of the fact that they are women. She notes that men define their own world, and women are merely meant to live in it. She sees women as unable to change the world like men can, unable to live their lives freely as men can, and, tragically, mostly unaware of their own oppression. In The Second Sex, de Beauvoir describes the subjugation of woman, defines a method for her liberation, and recommends strategies for this liberation that still have not been implemented today.