The Second Sex

Introduction

The Second Sex, published in 1949, written by Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986), is both philosophical (as promoting own philosophy), historical, literary, sociological and political. The author's denunciation of male dominance, female submission of resumes based essentialist arguments and, among others, the Marxist reading of the time of women. The Second Sex is still the benchmark of many feminist movements: translated into many languages, often reprinted (with variations in the presentation and in the density of text), the book is a reference not only to feminist philosophy, but political philosophy at all. The book is very strong, philosophically and politically, by Marxism and existentialism. The book consists of two volumes of unequal length: the first, "Facts and Myths" describes the role of the woman from the myths including literature, where it is still defined in relation to man. The second "The experience," rather to define the status of women based on analysis of the facts and the real situation of women married woman, mother, the prostitute, lesbian etc. The basis of the scriptures is the thesis: "One is not born a woman, one becomes one." The idea that there is the "eternal feminine" is the vehicle of oppression by the patriarchy. Much of what has been assigned to the woman is subjected to critical examination. Conventional marriage and family are presented as institutions to oppress women who need to be overcome.

Discussion

The chapter of facts and myths divides itself into three parts. Upon introduction, the author raises the question of the essence of femininity and existence problem. In the last part of the first volume, Beauvoir focuses on "myths". At the beginning of section on myth, Simone de Beauvoir wrote that history has shown us that men have always held all concrete powers: since the early days of patriarchy they found it useful to keep women in a state of dependence, their codes are established against her, and so women were actually incorporated as the Other sex. This condition served the economic interests of males, but it was also necessary to their ontological and moral claims. The author claims, “The universal positioning of the woman who has escaped from centuries of dependence on male dominance, from a tradition of overpowering feelings of weakness has, since its publication lost none of its validity (Beauvoir, pp. 367-759).”

The women have been denied the freedom. The laws of the society, which were of course ...