De Beauvoir

What does Beauvoir mean by the famous quote, "One is not born, but rather becomes a woman"? (1949)

Beauvoir asserts that gender is not a biological given but a social construct shaped by cultural, social, and historical forces. This challenges the essentialist view that women have an inherent essence.

What does Hengehold & Bauer (2017) argue about Beauvoir’s quote, “One is not born, but rather becomes a woman”?

Hengehold & Bauer write, “Beauvoir’s feminism provides a political framework, whereas existentialism supplies the ontological language.” This shows how existentialism is essential but ultimately a scaffold for her feminist critique.

What does Beauvoir mean by "the Other" in her feminist analysis?

Beauvoir (1949) explains, "She is defined and differentiated with reference to man and not he with reference to her; she is the incidental, the inessential, as opposed to the essential. He is the Subject, he is the Absolute—she is the Other.

How do Hengehold & Bauer (2017) describe Beauvoir’s notion of "the Other"?

Hengehold & Bauer note, “Beauvoir’s existentialist framework lays the groundwork for understanding how patriarchy constructs gendered inequality.” They describe how the concept of the “Other” is central to understanding women’s position within the patriarchal order (2017)

What is the existentialist concept of “bad faith” and how does it apply to women's oppression?

“Bad faith occurs when individuals deny their own freedom and responsibility, choosing to conform to societal expectations rather than act authentically.” (1949) Beauvoir applies this concept to women’s oppression, explaining how women often accept their prescribed roles in society.

How does Simons (2001) describe "bad faith" in relation to women's subordination?

Women are complicit in their own subordination through bad faith.

What is Beauvoir’s critique of the “eternal feminine”?

Beauvoir challenges the idea of an "eternal feminine," stating, "The myth of woman plays a considerable part in literature; but what is a myth? It is an imaginary story; the false as a form of truth."

How does Deutscher (2008) interpret Beauvoir’s critique of the “eternal feminine”?

Deutscher (2008) adds, "Beauvoir’s critique of the 'eternal feminine' is at the core of her feminist existentialism, offering a fundamental rejection of the passive, prescribed roles for women."

How does Fallaize (1998) describe Beauvoir’s feminism?

Beauvoir’s existentialism serves as the scaffolding for her feminist critique, but it is her engagement with the social and political realities of women’s lives that gives the text its power.”

How does Beauvoir describe the economic subordination of women?

The curse that is upon woman as vassal consists … in the fact that she is not allowed to do anything; so she is put in a situation where she must do nothing. This fact is of tremendous importance in explaining the often contradictory aspects of woman’s behavior.”

How does Simons (2001) interpret Beauvoir’s analysis of women’s economic dependence?

Simons (2001) argues, “Beauvoir’s feminist methodology takes into account the material conditions of women’s lives, recognizing that economic dependence is a key factor in women’s oppression.”

What is Beauvoir’s analysis of "the myth of femininity"?

Beauvoir critiques the "myth of femininity" by stating, “The myth of woman plays a considerable part in literature; but what is a myth? It is an imaginary story; the false as a form of truth.”

How does Spelman (1990) critique Beauvoir’s analysis of the myth of femininity?

Spelman (1990) notes, “By using existentialism as her framework, Beauvoir generalizes about women’s experiences in ways that erase the specificity of race and class. Her feminism, while groundbreaking, is limited by the abstract universality of existentialism.”

What does Sartre mean by “existence precedes essence”?

Sartre’s existentialist maxim, “Existence precedes essence,” asserts that humans are not born with a fixed nature; instead, they define themselves through their actions and choices.

How does Sartre’s concept of “freedom” influence Beauvoir’s feminist theory?

Sartre’s emphasis on radical freedom shapes Beauvoir’s feminist theory, where she argues that women must embrace their freedom and assert their own identity rather than accepting the roles assigned to them by society.

How does Beauvoir apply the concept of "freedom" to her feminist critique?

Beauvoir argues, “The situation of woman is that she—a free and autonomous being like all human creatures—nevertheless finds herself living in a world where men compel her to assume the status of the Other.”

How does Butler (1990) critique Beauvoir’s use of existentialism in feminist theory?

Butler (1990) critiques, “While Beauvoir’s existentialist insights are foundational, she still relies on a framework of subjective freedom that does not fully account for the performative nature of gender.”

How does Beauvoir describe the role of women's bodies in society?

Beauvoir states, “The body is the instrument of her captivity… [and] it has been suggested that women’s bodies have been used as a mechanism of control to perpetuate gender hierarchies.”

How does Crenshaw (1989) critique Beauvoir's feminist analysis in terms of intersectionality?

Crenshaw (1989) writes, “An analysis that does not take intersectionality into account cannot sufficiently address the particular manner in which Black women are subordinated.”

How does Beauvoir critique women's socialization from childhood?

Beauvoir critiques, "Girls are taught passivity through toys and education, while boys are encouraged to build and act, fostering creativity. This socialization establishes women’s association with domesticity and men’s agency."

How does Beauvoir describe women’s roles within marriage and motherhood?

Beauvoir argues, “Marriage stifles creativity, and motherhood controls women through their children, both limiting their freedom and imposing inauthentic roles on them.”

How does Butler (1990) explain the performative nature of gender in relation to Beauvoir’s ideas?

Butler (1990) asserts, “Gender is not an innate identity but is constructed through repeated performances. Beauvoir's existentialist framework is foundational, but gender must be seen as a process rather than a fixed essence.”

How does Sartre’s concept of "radical freedom" influence Beauvoir’s feminist theory?

Hengehold & Bauer (2017) argue, “Beauvoir builds on Sartre’s existentialism to challenge the constraints placed on women by society, calling for women to fully engage with their freedom and reject patriarchal roles.”

How does Beauvoir describe the "narcissistic" role women may adopt in a patriarchal society?

Beauvoir explains, “In patriarchy, women may adopt the narcissistic role, focusing on their appearance and self-image, as a way to seek validation in a society that objectifies them, thus denying their true autonomy and freedom.”

Simons (2001) on the difference between feminism and existentialism

De Beauvoir’s existentialism in The Second Sex is not a pure existentialism; it is modified and adapted to address specific feminist concerns, particularly the lived experiences of women.”

bell hooks 1981 on black women

• "Black women have never had the luxury of 'passivity' in the way white women have been taught to embrace it as a weaponized form of victimhood... Our oppression, the intersection of racism and sexism, required Black women to be hyper-productive and hyper-sexualized, denied the very ideals of womanhood that the dominant culture prescribed for women."

Critiques societal glorification of motherhood as limiting to women’s agency.Critiques societal glorification of motherhood as limiting to women’s agency.

Motherhood relegates women to immanence, denying them transcendence."

Emphasizes how societal norms instill self-objectification in women.

"Woman is taught from infancy to take herself as an object."