Since the late eighteenth century, the Women’s Movement has been a rich and vibrant movement that has engaged in efforts in search for equal rights and opportunities for women in their economic pursuits, private lives, and politics.
In the second half of the twentieth century, two iconic women, Margaret Thatcher and Simone de Beauvoir, played different roles in enhancing the principles of the strong and plural movement. Nonetheless, they represent two different generations of women in their public sphere and they also represent two philosophical extremes in their views.
Margaret Thatcher is a politician who served as the British Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990 (incidentally, the longest term in office of any head of a modern European government). Nonetheless, during the twenty-one years she was in power, she never did enough for the Women Movement and, at times, she even went contrary to the interests of women. Further, she did not portray any commonality or sorority with the other women who had the same political ambitions as her; she did little to support the careers of other women.
Although her accomplishments as a politician is somewhat indebted to the relentless efforts of the Women’s Movement that fought for the increase in number of females in positions of governance, she never conceded to this fact. Thatcher often asserted that she owed her accomplishments solely to her own hard work and personal attributes that earned her the nickname of the “Iron Lady” (Blundell, 2008).
Thatcher was a right-wing woman who opposed the ideas of the right and the Conservatives towards liberation of women. Thus, she portrayed the image of an uncompromised advocate of her own opinions. This was much more related to the nickname she earned and undoubtedly did not go well with the compassionate feminine stereotype of that time.
Some people saw that this amalgamation of her insensitive character and cruel policy made up a treachery of her own sex. However, it is of essence to note that if Thatcher contributed to something, then it was in respect to the normalization of the accomplishments of women.
This could only be realized in the way she did it. Obviously, realizing this under the banner of feminism could not be that easy. By serving as the leader of the Conservative Party, she provided evidence of gender equality and she knew that women were slowly changing their traditional role in the society (Foster, 1990). And in this way, she reached out to the rest of the women who were not holding demonstrations to burn their bras.
On the other hand, Simon de Beauvoir is viewed to have made a significant contribution to the Women Movement in terms of both theory and activism, which have been an inspiration to several women. De Beauvoir, considered the mother of post-1968 feminism, wrote many books that advocated for the course of women to be heard (Simons, 1999). More so, her life was a role model to the females. She publicly rebuffed marriage and motherhood and had a lifelong open and equal relationship with Jean-Paul Sartre.
She is mostly linked to the “second wave” of the Women’s Movement (1960s to 1980s), which was addressing issues of gender inequality in laws and culture. This is because of her thought of the females as “the other.” The thought established the foundation for later feminist theories as it was adapted to apply for the gender roles of the females in the homes, at their places of work, and even to define their sexuality, as well.
In one of her books, The Second Sex, she tackles the idea of the “other.” She suggested that the idea that the females were being perceived as the “other” in the patriarchal society was increasingly being regarded as the custom and implemented by the continuing development of myths. She asserted that the fact that the females are able to bear children does not prove to be a reason enough to give them their position as the “second sex” in the society (De Beauvoir, 1952).
As a left-wing woman, de Beauvoir battled against cultural and political disparities that she perceived to be inextricably associated and, through her various works, she motivated women to fathom elements of their own personal lives as acutely politicized, and indication of a sexist arrangement of authority. The feminist activities of de Beauvoir were mostly concerned with the issue of equality, for example, how to end unfairness in the male-centered society (McKay, Hill, & Buckler, 2011).
To this end, it is evident that Thatcher and de Beauvoir played different roles in the Women’s Movement. While the former was a right-wing woman, the latter was a left-wing woman who made greater contribution to the course of women during the second half of the twentieth century.
Thatcher succeeded in breaking the legal barriers to gender equality during her time in power. However, it is true that gender equality cannot be accomplished solely through legislative means. Thus, de Beauvoir, as illustrated above, made the greater contribution to Women Movement.
Reference List
Blundell, J. (2008). Margaret Thatcher: a portrait of the Iron Lady. New York: Algora Pub.
De Beauvoir, S. (1952). The second sex. New York, Vintage Books.
Foster, L. M. (1990). Margaret Thatcher : first woman prime minister of Great Britain. Chicago : Childrens Press.
McKay, J., Hill B. D., & Buckler, J. (2011). A history of Western society. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins.
Simons, M. A. Beauvoir and The second sex: feminism, race, and the origins of existentialism. Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield, cop.