Thursday, December 10, 2009
Simone de Beauvoir The Second Sex
The french female existentialist Simone de Beauvoir posited a pretty interesting theory about individualty, specifically female individuality. To put it as simply as possible she posits that one is not born a female (while yes they may be genetically) but rather they must become a female. This is a theme throughout all of existentialism, basically "existence proceeds essence," that is you are really nothing at your core and you choose through your actions/projects what you want to become, what you stand for. I know it is complicated, but it makes sense when you think about it. Personally, I hope to become a lawyer (assuming I didn't blow the LSAT) and I cannot say I was born a lawyer, but rather I am choosing through my actions and mindset what I hope to become. Regarding feminism, then, is one born an independent female thinker or do they have to evolve into this when they chose to do so? Is this applicable to men as well?
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In social sciences, gender does not specifically go hand in hand with sex. A person could be born with the sex of a man. However, that person's gender could be a women. So, i do agree with de Beauvoir and you that people become what gender they will be. In most cases it does correlate with what sex you are, but this is not a definite. This also goes with MacKinnons view on control over one's sexuality. She claims that woman cannot gain control over her sexuality but i feel this proves the opposite. You can hide your sexuality from everyone else, but you are still able to take control of it.
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