The Second Sex Theory

Running head: THE SECOND SEX THEORY
THE SECOND SEX THEORY
Name of the Student
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Author Note

1THE SECOND SEX THEORY
‘The Second Sex’ by Simone de Beauvoir, took on the most primary and essential
part of her life, her womanhood. Hailed as one of the literary pieces that encompassed every
aspect of feminist literature yet superseded it by leaps and bounds because it enraptured the
reader, while painting fascinating portraits of women, in various lights like, women as lover,
women as narcissists and even women as mystics, which is finally wrapped up with a chapter
on the independence of women (Fullbrook & Fullbrook 1998). It was evident that the book
bought de Beauvoir great notoriety in her circles, and it traced the journey of the ‘second sex’
through ages till hers, however, it brings us to argue about the relevance of the book in
today’s world. In this essay I will research the argument, which applauds the book’s
relevance even today, in this society where women still seem cocooned inside a wall that
refuses to permit them a status equal to that of men, despite feminist movements and
countless instances of women equaling men and even superseding them in countless sectors.
While researching, it became evident that she was Jean Paul Sartre’s companion. She
held quite a privileged position in the society as she had a career in teaching, a degree from a
university and she had a place of her own, in the intellectual circles of Paris during her time.
However, she had realized that despite her apparently privileged position, she was seen as
Sartre’s inferior. Simply because, she belonged to the ‘second sex’. She pens in 700 pages her
stance on who she is and what the universal woman means and is capable of. She created a
firm stand rooted in the history of mankind where discrimination was prevalent and often
faced by womankind (Simons 2010). This reminds the modern day woman, of her position.
Most women, despite equally relevant careers, still face discrimination from men and are
bound by ridiculous rules that limit their existence to that of the primary caregiver, and that
only.
De Beauvoir’s thesis is on the oppression of womankind, by characterization, like
discussed above. This role is called, ‘the other’ to the man’s ‘self’. She is rendered

2THE SECOND SEX THEORY
incomplete by society, doomed to remain inward, while a man goes out into the world to
establish his dominance and impose his demands. Even today this distinction is evident, as
primarily women act as the homemaker and it is assumed that man is the individual provides.
Despite similar jobs, women is primarily the mother, the birth giver, the person to rears up
children, takes care of the home and serves the husband, Despite progressive mentalities in
the forefront, duties are never equally divided (Adams 2019). Discrimination is, according to
her, “a miraculous balm for those afflicted with an inferiority complex, and indeed not one is
more arrogant toward women, more aggressive or scornful, than the man who is anxious
about his virility”.
Gender roles have been profoundly imbalanced since the beginning of time. The
psychological impact of such gender roles are never positive. It leads to a loss in self-
confidence, a feeling of claustrophobia sinks in making the woman susceptible to problems
like self-esteem issues, anxiety and depression. This can be discussed in context of pay-gap in
organizations where women are paid laid despite them doing the same amount of work, this
kills motivation (Adams 2019). Her book serves as a manual on women’s feelings in cases
like these, owing to her experience of the same nature, thus it holds special significance in the
fields of psychotherapy to help women find true meaning of their gender and defy roles
pressed on to them.
Simone De Beauvoir’s book holds special relevance in feminist literature based on
today’s society. Lily Myers, in ‘Shrinking Women’ recount familiar tales of suppression
faced by the women in the history of the world being molded within a regressive stance,
which asks them to limit their feeling and emotions to appear proper, thereby suggesting that
a women who emote are not considered proper. We realize that this seems like war on
women when they are being deprived of tolerance for their human tendencies (Ali & Nawaz
2017). Lily Meyers in her poem notes, that the mother eats dinner when she suggests it. She