Simone de Beauvoir
Definition
Simone de Beauvoir was a French writer, intellectual, existentialist philosopher, political activist, feminist and social theorist. She is best known for her work "The Second Sex," which discusses the treatment of women throughout history.
Analogy
Think of Simone de Beauvoir as an architect who helped design the blueprint for modern feminism. Her ideas laid the foundation upon which many others have built.
Related terms
Existentialism: This is a philosophical theory or approach that emphasizes individual existence, freedom and choice.
Second-wave Feminism: This refers to a period of feminist activity that began in the early 1960s and lasted through the late 1980s. It focused on issues such as equality in law and culture.
Women's Liberation Movement: This was a political alignment of women and feminist intellectualism that emerged in the late 1960s and continued into the 1980s primarily in Western countries. It sought to free women from oppression and male supremacy.
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Study guides (1)
Practice Questions (9)
What did Simone de Beauvoir’s “The Second Sex” inspire?
How did Simone de Beauvoir's "The Second Sex" impact the feminist movement in Europe during the 20th century?
What fundamental change did Simone de Beauvoir’s "The Second Sex" introduce into feminist thought?
What did Simone de Beauvoir's monumental work "The Second Sex" highlight as a major obstacle for women’s self-identity and independence?
How does Simone de Beauvoir’s "The Second Sex" mirror themes seen in Mary Wollstonecraft's "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman" published nearly two centuries earlier?
How could the feminist movement's progress in Western Europe during the late twentieth century be substantially different if Simone de Beauvoir hadn't published "The Second Sex"?
What impact did Simone de Beauvoir's "The Second Sex" (1949) have on women's rights movements in Europe?
How did Simone de Beauvoir's "The Second Sex" influence feminist movements?
How did Simone de Beauvoir's "The Second Sex" influence the feminist movement of the 20th century?
Resources
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