Progress? Simone de Beauvoir’s The Second Sex and Modern Feminism

Simone de Beauvoir, who died in 1986, became a pioneering figure for many within the feminist movement due the publication of her work Le Deuxième Sexe in 1949. Her celebrated statement, “One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman,” was, and still is, highly influential and widely circulated. But how relevant is The Second Sex in today’s context? Have Beauvoir’s ideas been misinterpreted and distorted? Or, are we making progress towards reversing what she considered to be women’s position as the ‘other’, constantly overshadowed, in comparison to the overarching dominance of men? It is these questions that I am hoping to make some progress towards answering, or at the very least consider.

‘Feminism’ and all the misconceptions attached to it within modern society are often incendiary talking points. It is something that I have noticed more so in the UK (but maybe that’s just because I can speak the language and so understand what’s going on), but everyone has a strong and divided opinion, which largely seems to be one of either two groups. I have to say I was somewhat scared of writing this blog post as I know how strong these opinions sometimes are, and if you have the wrong one you’re stupid. Although it varies in a university environment due to the more liberal way of thinking generally associated with students, amongst many others if you deem yourself a ‘feminist’ it means you are automatically a man-hater. On the other hand if you say you aren’t a ‘feminist’, you hate women, believe men are better in every possible way etc, etc. It can be tiring, to say the least, and are in many ways divisions that could be entirely avoided if we devoid the word of all the negative connotations it currently possessed, and strip it back to its true meaning.

In light of all this, I really enjoyed reading the introduction to The Second Sex to attempt to understand some original feminist notions. In essence, it seems to me that what Beauvoir argues is that the male gaze has become institutionalised to the extent that the possibilities available to women are entirely delimited, and they are consequently viewed as the ‘other’, the inferior sex. The man is the essential, sovereign subject. For Beauvoir, however, as existence precedes essence, these ideals of femininity are entirely constructed, and it is societal structures imposed upon us that cause us to ‘become a woman’, one with this limited field of possibilities. She considers that, “Every female being is not necessarily a woman; to be so considered she must share in that mysterious and threatened reality known as femininity.”

One aspect of The Second Sex that I found pertinent to the controversy associated with the modern feminist movement was when she states, “People have tirelessly sought to prove that woman is superior, inferior or equal to man…If we are to gain understanding, we must get out of these ruts; we must discard the vague notions of superiority, inferiority and equality which have hitherto corrupted every discussion of the subject and start afresh.” This is something that I feel many people today do not adhere to: we become so focused on achieving absolute equality that we forget freedom and the end of oppression are what should be the ultimate end goals. Furthermore, it should be actions that serve the universal cause of freedom, and not one restricted to certain groups, i.e. women. An overarching acceptance is of upmost importance.

Regarding the relevance of The Second Sex and any progress we have made towards Beauvoir’s end goals, I believe that the fact that we are at least attempting to fight for liberation means something, even if it is at times slightly misguided. Beauvoir is critical in her work of women who act in complicity with the world established by men, and holds them in disregard: they live an inauthentic existence and deny their freedom. She is critical of Western women of that era who were aware of their oppression and yet did nothing about it, because it allows them to live without the fundamental existential struggle. In her words, “Refusing to be the Other, refusing all complicity with man, would mean renouncing all the advantages an alliance with the superior caste confers on them.” Beauvoir lived a controversial life, to say the least, and one that was always characterised by her relationship with Jean-Paul Sartre. Her non-conformity to the ideals of marriage that were still highly present when she was alive shows how she valued freedom above all else. 

Although I don’t agree with absolutely everything that Beauvoir argues in The Second Sex, its position as both a revolutionary feminist text is undeniable, and the notions it contains are, I believe, still relevant, even if less so. Gender constructs are now something widely recognised, and I believe we have made partial progress towards reversing these, despite the struggle attached. I also feel women are now less complicit with the world of men, and are continually engaged in our struggle for freedom. But, that is not to say there aren’t difficulties associated with the movement, and the misconceptions surrounding it need to be addressed.  In my opinion, we need to stop thinking that it’s ‘us’ against ‘them’, not only in feminism but really in any liberation movement.

I’d be really interested to hear other people’s thoughts on this matter, so please feel free to comment!