Simone de Beauvoir
Founder of modern feminist philosophy — 'one is not born, but becomes, a woman.'
Overview
A major existentialist philosopher in her own right and the founder of modern feminist philosophy, de Beauvoir applied existentialist freedom to ethics and to the situation of women. In The Second Sex she analyzed how women have been cast as the 'Other' against a male norm and argued that femininity is not a natural essence but a social construction. Her Ethics of Ambiguity worked out an existentialist ethics grounded in freedom that wills the freedom of others.
What they supported — and why
Woman as the 'Other'
SupportedMan has been posited as the norm and the essential 'Subject', woman as the deviation, the 'Other' — defined always in relation to him.
WhyAnalyzing myth, history, and biology shows women's subordination is built into how they have been represented, not dictated by nature.
'One is not born, but becomes, a woman'
SupportedFemininity is not a fixed biological or metaphysical essence but something produced by upbringing, society, and situation.
WhyIf existence precedes essence, then 'woman' too is made, not given — which means the subordination of women can be changed.
An ethics of freedom and ambiguity
SupportedTo live authentically is to will one's own freedom and, in doing so, the freedom of others; human existence is irreducibly ambiguous.
WhySince our freedom is bound up with others', genuine ethics rejects both self-deception and the oppression that denies others their freedom.
Causes championed
- Women's liberation and equality
- Existentialist ethics
- Authentic, engaged freedom
Issues wrestled with
- Why have women been subordinated?
- Is 'woman' a natural essence?
- How should free beings live together?
Hurdles faced
- Long overshadowed by her partner Sartre despite her original contribution
- The Second Sex was placed on the Vatican's Index and widely condemned
Works & books
2 catalogued. Status shows how much survives to today.
The Second Sex
SurvivesThe founding work of modern feminist philosophy.
The Ethics of Ambiguity
SurvivesHer systematic existentialist ethics.
Read the texts free
Their works online — Open Library catalogues 277 works & editions.
The influence network
See Simone de Beauvoir in the map →Influenced by
Influenced
In their words
“One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.”
— The Second Sex
Legacy
She founded modern feminist philosophy and gave existentialism its most influential ethics; The Second Sex reshaped how the world thinks about gender.
Further reading
Cross-checked against these authoritative references.