The Second Sex Summary
5 min read ⌚
Revolutionized ideas about the female role in the modern society marked the beginning of a new era.
Confronting the conventional way of life isn’t a straightforward process even from a feminist’s point of view.
Nonetheless, De Beauvoir teaches you not to back down and surrender your inner power to someone else.
Who Should Read “The Second Sex”? And Why?
Guided by an incentive to unravel the cause of this social inequality, Simone wrote this thought-provoking masterpiece in the late 40s.
“The Second Sex” is not only suitable for women. On the contrary, we encourage men to read it and get the hang of feminism as a tool for reach full-equality on a global scale.
Simone de Beauvoir Biography
Simone de Beauvoir BiographyWe would say that Simone de Beauvoir was a freedom fighter, a writer, and political activist.
That role best describes her work and endeavors in reaching political and social justice for all groups.
She died in 1986, at 78 years of age in Paris, France.
“The Second Sex PDF Summary”
De Beauvoir’s ideas symbolize the launch of feminism. Oppression as a weapon used against female individuality represents the main incentive for putting up a fight.
Men didn’t solely use oppression to turn a hostile situation to account. Among other things, Niccolò Machiavelli also justifies the use of power to suppress uprisings or political discontent.
Men are eligible to seize all power and perceive women’s role as secondary. In other words, females are the object and have no right to pull the strings.
From today’s standpoint, these concepts seem brutal, but when this book was published in 1949, there was no organized resistance against gender injustice.
Men, on the other hand, were perceived as citizens of the highest – order. An undisputed master and leader, without room for debate or discontent.
Women have absorbed the role of an incomplete, inferior, and trivial entity that is not capable of either drawing conclusions or being in charge.
Their primary job is to be good wives so thus destroying their native wit and uniqueness. The old fairy-tale scenarios don’t work anymore! Men do all “the hard work” such as innovating, earning money, while the women must remain obedient.
De Beauvoir questions all the concepts that flow behind this disproportion. Why would we behave as if we are enemies, instead of providing support to all humans?
Restricting the idea of help contributes to lower self-awareness and ultimately unhappiness.
Making gigantic strides towards gender equality takes both time and intelligence, and De Beauvoir is the one who initiated the process.
Some characteristics are attributed to certain personalities, but even so, you must not be lured by it to continue with the segregation.
Act with a sense of responsibility to improve the well-being of all parties involved, not just safeguarding your interests.
Denying a woman’s uniqueness is practically an approach that obscures the broader view of humanity. Don’t label it as “other” because, at the end of the day, it’s all about being righteous.
In “The Second Sex” the author thrives in underlying the roles that add to this inefficiency in order to balance the scale.
The social ladder for thousands of years has given the women a minor role in the execution of essential tasks.
In efforts to vote for fairness, Simone de Beauvoir casts doubt upon the basic social principles that we live by.
Debating about the female’s inferiority as a topic has never been seriously examined. In truth, we are all aversive to change, especially if that alteration conflicts with your beliefs and agenda.
However, that’s not a valid excuse for continuing the repression. This is not about choosing a side, nor erasing male dominance over women so that that peace can prevail.
It’s merely a new mindset, that is not fixated on extinguishing a fire with a bigger flame.
De Beauvoir also puts in the spotlight a myriad of well-defined types of behavior that are suitable for a woman.
She asserts that these concepts are deeply embedded into human consciousness, with an intention to suppress uprisings and riots.
Another tool used to conceal the troubles is maternity. This amazing journey illustrates the new birth of two souls, a sacred path that is in correlation with nature.
To keep the women from running riot, it’s best if you infiltrate their minds, and use maternity for personal planning. Robbing them of individuality is like depriving yourself of being in the company of a good friend.
What’s the author’s mission? As she describes, women’s mindset can shape in thousands of different directions, all depending on external and internal factors.
The exposition to certain processes can erase or impose concepts, determined by a woman’s independence, self-confidence, and role.
A large portion of the women today are compelled to accept various forms physical, mental and emotional slavery – isn’t this cruel?
Nowadays, sexual harassment in the workplace is a big issue, even in “liberate” environments. Waiting for the storm to subside is not an option, because you’ll be flattened out.
In this classic, you’ll bump into hundreds of examples that explain why favoring female individuality is prosperous for both genders.
Lack of cultural and emotional intelligence inhibit the social growth. In the past, when a specific group was inhabiting the land of a lord it had no other choice but to abide by the principles of the landlord.
These days, we have new rulers, who also want to keep the ball rolling. Furthermore, these unethical laws are targeting certain groups, or in this case, women – leading to gender segregation, salary gap, you name it.
What are the three main duties that any woman had to fulfill? First things first, submit to the husband’s rule by being a devoted wife.
Second, having kids and being a mother. This role is not that big of deal, but men tried to enforce a mentality that would be suitable for this responsibility and thus keep the women locked in a mental cage.
Third, an entertainer who does all the “easy work” while the man is out on the field to provide for his family.
Your place in the social circle of power doesn’t give you any privileges to exploit others. Moral intelligence must be the core of decision-making and the only rulebook of that kind.
Respecting each and every one is an approach from which you’ll gain a lot.
The Second Sex Epilogue
De Beauvoir’s book – should you like to call it a study, encourages women to become more empowered and take the lead.
After all, it doesn’t promote vengeance of any type nor anger toward men.
It solely undermines the circle of slavery and bondage and converts it into a window of endless opportunities.
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“The Second Sex PDF Quotes”
No one is more arrogant toward women, more aggressive or scornful, than the man who is anxious about his virility. Click To Tweet Few tasks are more like the torture of Sisyphus than housework, with its endless repetition: the clean becomes soiled, the soiled is made clean, over and over, day after day. Click To Tweet Representation of the world, like the world itself, is the work of men; they describe it from their own point of view, which they confuse with absolute truth. Click To Tweet Women's mutual understanding comes from the fact that they identify themselves with each other; but for the same reason each is against the others. Click To Tweet One is not born a genius, one becomes a genius; and the feminine situation has up to the present rendered this becoming practically impossible. Click To Tweet
Our Critical Review
Whether you like feminists or not, you cannot neglect the fact that this classic changed the course of history.
And what did men lose as a result? – Nothing actually, the liberation of all women is a mission that is not yet fully accomplished, but the route is paved with sincerity and noble intentions.
Hopefully, we will all rejoice together in the near future, with equal possibilities for everyone.
Emir is the Head of Marketing at 12min. In his spare time, he loves to meditate and play soccer.
