1、Simone de Beauvoir:Introduction to the Second SexMarch 22,2006S.de Beauvoir and J.P.SartreThe Second Sex Woman as the second sex The second sex derived from the first sex Women in the position of the“other”What does it mean to be an“other”?I and the other We and the otherThe Second Sex(1949)Beginnin
2、g of second wave of feminism Main idea of the book Women as the second sex The second sex as derived from the first sex Women have been defined as secondary to men who have been seen as the primary sexDuality of the sexes Duality of sexes in the history of ideas The male and the female acc.to tradit
3、ional understanding that goes back to ancient philosophy The male is the rational being,the female deviates from the male Thomas Aquinas:“The female is an imperfect male”Traditional understanding of duality of the sexes Male Rationality Culture Mind,soul The role of men is to be pater familias and g
4、overn society Female Body Nature Emotions The role of women is to bear and rear childrenThe Second sexThe division of consciousness in“self”and“other”Men have better chances,have a better position of powerSexual differenceImmanence:To be stuck in a condition,not be able to go beyond itWomen are poor
5、er(still women only one ca 3%-5%of the wealth of the world)Simone de Beauvoir:Introduction to the Second SexOther minorities(Blacks in US,Jews etc.Other minorities(Blacks in US,Jews etc.Simone de Beauvoir:Introduction to the Second SexThe male is the rational being,the female deviates from the maleO
6、ther minorities(Blacks in US,Jews etc.Men and women should work togetherMain idea of the bookSex and GenderWhat does it mean to be an“other”?Women are not a minority in the same manner as for example Blacks in the USThe second sex derived from the first sexWomen according to traditional duality of t
7、he sexes Women are“dangerous”in the public sphere because they are“unprdictable”as they are determined by their emotions(Hegel)Women should not to be allowed to take part in politics Women should keep silent in the church(Apostle Paul)Traditional duality of the sexes and Essentialism According to tr
8、aditional dualisitic theories about sexual difference:Sexual difference is understood to be based on different anatomy of the sexes The anatomy of women predestines them to fulfill certain roles Women are thus“essentially”different from men Old believe that there is a womens nature or essence This b
9、elief is the basis of traditional ideas about the division of sexual roles in societyEssentialism about sexual difference Womens essence=women have certain attributes,all women and everywhere and at all times This is biological essentialism According to it women have biological basis that makes them
10、 cognitively and morally different from men(less rational and less morally accountable)Essentialism Essentialism about sexual difference is therefore a very much criticized doctrine Impossible doctrine:Essence means that all women have to be in a certain way If there is one exception to this it is i
11、mpossible to talk about essence of all women Is it nevertheless possble to talk about sexual difference?Sexual difference Men and women are different,biologically Are they different psychologically,cognitively?Perhaps not much more than men are different from one another,just as women are different
12、from one another But are there“tendencies”or“styles”that are common to women and common to men that could allow us to define sexual difference?PerhapsEssentialism Has there been an essentialism about men?According to Beauvoir not to the same degree as about women Men have been associated with being“
13、human”.The human is man.Woman has thus been considered less than human in the history of our culture Men have been the measure according to which women have been defined.The woman is defined according to which she lacks being a man(Aristotle)But are there“tendencies”or“styles”that are common to wome
14、n and common to men that could allow us to define sexual difference?The female is the other,the lesserWomen should get out of immanence,and use their transcendenceThe woman is defined according to which she lacks being a man(Aristotle)The female is the other,the lesserI and the otherThe human is man
15、.Men have been associated with being“human”.The role of women is to bear and rear childrento Beauvoir women and blacks are seen as they are more bodies,more animalicto BeauvoirBeauvoir Are there really women?asks Beauvoir She means,is there a womans essence?She denies that Women and men are however
16、different Their differences are determined by historical,social circumstances,and also different bodies That does not have to lead to biological essentialismSex and gender To avoid essentialism about sexual difference anglo-american feminists make the distinction between Sex and Gender Sex is biolog
17、ical sex Gender has to do with the social,historical determinates of the difference of men and womenSex and Gender This distinction is based on the idea of social construction of the differences between men and women Beauvoir:“One is not born a woman,but becomes a woman”Sexual difference Sexual iden
18、tity is nevertheless not only cultural(determined by culture)social(produced by society)discursive(produced by discourses)or volitional(free choice)it also has a basis in the body Beauvoirs thesis is thus that being a man or a woman determines the life of us allThe Second sex It matters of what sex
19、one is born Men have better chances,have a better position of power Women have less power in politics,in society Women are poorer(still women only one ca 3%-5%of the wealth of the world)Women are not as free as men,acc.to Beauvoir It is because women have been defined as being“other”,as being differ
20、entWhy a book about the second sex?Women have to define their situation To be a woman is being in a certain position Men have not had to define their position in the same manner according to Beauvoir A male is“man”Woman is what deviates from being“man”Therefore women have to define their position an
21、ewFirst and second sex Being the second sex implies that woman is seen as“the sex”Therefore emphasis on womens body,sexuality The male is seen as the one,as“man”and related to his cognitive capaties The female is the other,the lesser All that is differenct,negativeThe other Why did women become the
22、second sex and land in the position of the other?Beauvoirs explanation The division of consciousness in“self”and“other”Self defines itself by demarcating itself against an other Self has more power and can“other”the other one,put him/her in the position of the other Individuals and society do this(I
23、 and other,We and others)I and other Hegelian dilaectic of master and slave:the struggle for power and recognition between two individuals The stronger one becomes“master”,the one who looses the fight becomes the“other”Not only women are in the position of the other Other minorities(Blacks in US,Jew
24、s etc.)System of opposites Women are not a minority in the same manner as for example Blacks in the US Women have always been with men Women do not have a common history like Blacks and like Jews Women have not formed themselves(acc.to Beauvoir)as a group,like other minorities It is now beginning,sh
25、e claims Women are beginning to refuse being the otherThe situation of women in France in the first half of the 20th century Acc.to Beauvoir women and blacks are seen as they are more bodies,more animalic The one who is insecure about his masculinity is more arrogant towards women The Second sex was
26、 published 1949 Women in France had recently gained the right to vote Abortion was illegal and even punished with death in the first half of the 20th century Pre-pill times,less control over procreation than nowTime for change Men do not recognize women as equals Attributes that have been associated
27、 with women are considered less and even“dirty”Time to change this Beauvoir calls for mutual recognition and respectEthics of existencialism Beauvoir is an existencialist Main creed of existencialism:Man is freedom,man always has a choice Man has to decide about his/her life,take responsibility for
28、itEthics of existencialism Women have acc.to Beauvoir not been able to exercise this freedom Freedom=Transcendence,go beyond oneself vs.Immanence:To be stuck in a condition,not be able to go beyond it Women should get out of immanence,and use their transcendenceBeauvoirs conclusion Men and women should work together Men and women should respect each other as equal,although there are differences
