The Second Sex

Simone de Beauvior focuses n describing the difference between the women and the female. A section is provided to discuss how women are determined to be equal to men. Men and women are compared while highlighting the idea that women are inferior to men. The idea of the Other is explained in detail using not only women, but African Americans, Jewish, etc. One idea is that women acquire only what is given to them by men. Throughout history and today, women are being held down by their male counterparts. The history of women’s inferiority is outlined displaying the roots of feminism. de Beauvior concludes the difficulty of writing about women without a bias.

One must display femininity to be considered a woman instead of merely a female. The author states that when women desire to be equal to men, they are trying to achieve the same amount of consideration and respect. As displayed in Genesis and by St Thomas, women are the “imperfect men” and merely exist based on a male. The Other can be seen in many circumstances, where one suppresses the other or considers them to be their opposition. Men are considered responsible for events that framed history. Women, on the other hand, lack the valued roles in history therefore have difficulty producing effects. Men are valued above women in many circumstances such as legal status and politics.

The inferiority of women can be distinguished in a variety of examples in class and discussions. The news reel from the 1930s, displayed the femininity of a woman in the winter fur fashion show. Even in poor circumstances, these women are wearing the latest fashion. In A Good Man Is Hard To Find, the dangerous decision of the main female role, the grandmother, illustrates the tragic flaw of a woman. Had the grandmother listened to the male’s advice and not accepted the adventure the story would not have a disastrous ending. In Indian Camp, the male role can be viewed as inferior as his weakness is displayed by his suicide. The woman giving birth to the child exemplifies the strong character.

Give an example of Others. Both the supreme being and it’s Other.
What do you think about St Thomas’s statement that women are imperfect men?
Can you give examples of women being superior?