Simone de Beauvoir is among the most popular novelist and feminist thinker who has contributed significantly to the field of philosophy. The most famous work of this writer trained in the analytic tradition is the “The Second Sex” from 1949 which forms the foundation of second-wave feminism (Cameron 483). She broadens the concerns from the first wave feminism to incorporate family, sexuality, employment, and reproductive rights. Remarkably, she focuses on how women are perceived as the other “other” in a male-dominated society. The most popular line in the work is: “One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman” (Cameron 484), which implies that the roles of women in the society are not given at birth, but instead are socially constructed.
Today, most societies still perceive men as the heads of households, and they should not partake specific roles like household chores which are thought to be feminine. Women are taught to look and act in a certain way and work only on specific types of jobs (Maguire para 8). The society does not provide a favorable environment in which a woman can thrive and achieve great things. They have to put extra effort compared to their male counterparts such as when looking for employment.
Feminists have made significant progress since Simone wrote her book in 1949. Women today have better opportunities to attend school, secure good jobs, and even provide for their families which implies that one can express their radical freedom when making life choices. Compared to women who grew up in the previous generations, Beauvoir would conclude that due to the practical differences in the situations, one can see and, therefore, has different choices. The gender roles for the women are deeply rooted on a psychological level which makes it seem possible for a woman today to attain all their goals.
In conclusion, radical freedom applies in the context of the actual life decision one makes based on their experience. It is undoubtedly not abstract choice to be free.
Works Cited
Cameron, Deborah. "Language, Gender, and Sexuality: Current Issues and New Directions." Applied Linguistics 26.4 (2005): 482-502. .
Maguire, Laura. SIMONE DE BEAUVOIR. 29 February 2016. 4 December 2018. .
