Font Size: a A A

On Beauvoir's Feminism In The Second Sex

Posted on:2012-10-02Degree:MasterType:Thesis
Country:ChinaCandidate:H ZhangFull Text:PDF
GTID:2167330338494984Subject:Marxist philosophy
Abstract/Summary:PDF Full Text Request
Simone de Beauvoir was known as a great philosopher, writer, as well as feminist. She was know specially for her feminist. As Sartre's lifelong companion she created the contractual love. In The Second Sex, in order to draw a conclusion that woman was not born, but made, "Woman was not a natural, would rather to say a journey of the process." Beauvoir studied gender differences in individual development process of various women along the life development from childhood to old age from biology, psychology, religion, myth, literature, history, and other aspects (Including lesbian, prostitutes, mistress, nuns, professional women, etc ) .As an existentialist, her thought of feminist thought was influenced by two key existentialist philosophers—Heidegger and Sartre. Heidegger's eigentlich-uneigentlich was Beauvoir's theoretical basis. As Sartre's lifelong partner, she deeply influenced by Sartre's existentialism. For Beauvoir, Sartre's theory of being-in-itself and being-for-itself was the theoretical foundation of women's low status. At the same time, Beauvoir's feminism was the product of special background. The situation of her and her contemporary female compatriot was the important material of Beauvoir's The Second Sex."The other" is the important concept of the book. Physiological features of female provide the possibility for women to become "the other", public opinion under patriarchy society also provided shelter for "the other". For the position of "the other", many women got unique properties; these also form the "femininity". After detailed analysis of the women's status in society situation, she concluded that if female wants to be free she would have to break the bondage of the "femininity". Beauvoir's feminism has not only played a very important role in the second women's movement, but also in the process of China's feminist development.The aim of women's movement is not to suppress men, but to live more harmonious, to cooperate, and to promote common development.
Keywords/Search Tags:Beauvoir, The Second Sex, Feminism, The other, Femininity
PDF Full Text Request
Related items