Analysis of “The Second Sex: Author’s Introduction” by Simone de Beauvoir

From Sociological Theory 2019

Simone de Beauvoir was a prominent sociologist in the 20th century being one of the few females in her field which brought a women’s perspective to sociological study. She had a big influence on feminism and feminist ideas. Beauvoir begins her introduction with an exhaustive tone toward what the worlds thinks it means to be a woman, and feminism, feeling enough “ink has been spilled in the quarrelling over feminism” (Beauvoir, 1949, pg. 1). Despite a myriad of writings on women and feminism, Beauvoir thinks little has actually been achieved when it comes to solving any problems.

To be a woman, Beauvoir notices how most speakers on the subject seem to believe it involves having femininity, but she wonders, how does one acquire this femininity? She points out that being a woman is like being “the Jew, or the Negro” and that science can no longer differentiate these entities biologically; we are all human (Beauvoir, 1949, pg. 1). Beauvoir recognizes that when she wrote this book, there were differences between men and women of “clothes, faces, bodies, smiles, gaits, interests, and occupations” whether they were external or not. Beauvoir explains the unfairness of when men think or behave a certain way, it is just so, and no one can use his gender as an excuse, but whatever women do or say, it is denoted it to the fact they are a woman. The idea of these predispositions of women as born wrong, and men as born right has been around for centuries in writings and even in the Bible with Eve in Genesis. Since humanity is referred to as “man,” women are spoken about in relation to men. Beauvoir proposes that women classified as the “Other” sex is a human idea that has been around since the beginning of time.

Beauvoir questions why women don’t seem to question male rule or domination, and why they sometimes accept being considered as the “Other.” She finds it confusing because women aren’t a smaller population than men like blacks or Jews once were. However, Beauvoir argues discrimination of blacks or the Jewish is different than that of women because the latter is a result of a historical development rather than a few single historical events. Beauvoir believes sexism is a harder issue to solve than others, that it will take time to undo all the conceptions about women and feminism. She believes women need a more “subjective attitude” like African Americans to make a change, and that women are part of the blame too (Beauvoir, 1949, pg. 4). Women must congregate together and demand for more rights and better treatment rather than waiting around for things to improve.

Beauvoir states, “division of the sexes is a biological fact, not an event in human history,” meaning it has always occurred (Beauvoir, 1949, pg. 4). She expresses that women have not been liberated due to how they handle men, using sex and their ability to produce offspring for receiving what they want. This notion of reciprocation, similar to a slave and a master, is how the oppressor continues to rule over the oppressed. If women attempted to be equal to men, everything they have been granted or earned thus far would disappear. Up until recently, laws and restrictions have been written by men, favored toward men. Men have strived to keep women as the lesser of the sexes by formulating religious texts, philosophies, scientific ideas, and so on which show this idea and depict it as being beneficial to people and earth. Beauvoir notices that if there is any threat of women growing more independent, taking on “men’s roles,” or choosing not to get married and have a family, men bring women down through more laws and writings to assert them back into their desired position. Likewise, Beauvoir states when the industrial revolution began and women started acquiring jobs, men felt intimidated by them as potential “dangerous competitors” since they were accustomed to lower wages than men (Beauvoir, 1949, pg. 6).

Beauvoir states men think of women as equals, but at the same time say women could never be equal to men. She proposes these types of discriminations which affect women’s intellectual and moral selves so drastically, that it appears women are born as such. For the men who write on feminism, Beauvoir suggests we could never fully value their work because they could never truly understand the hardships of women. Arguing over who’s better, men or women, superior or inferior, is pointless in her opinion. Despite women in coming far since the beginning of their fight, there’s still more to make right. To accomplish total equality between men and women, we must start with women demanding their rights through books, words, and actions. She believes too many works have been produced trying to define feminism and understand women. While some people believe women in traditional feminine roles, such as raising kids or housekeeping appear “happier” than those who are more independent and work, Beauvoir believes it is easier for those to ascribe happiness to ones filling expectations. Beauvoir is not concerned with the interests of someone’s happiness, but rather their freedom.

Citations:

1. Beauvoir, Simone. 1949. The Second Sex: Author’s Introduction.

2. Image: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what-to-read/becoming-beauvoir-kate-kirkpatrick-review-search-real-simone/