One of the most famous and yet the most controversial work of Simone de Beauvoir, The Introduction to the Second Sex offers a lot of food for thoughts. Making the reader aware of the problems that women encounter in the XX century world, Simone de Beauvoir creates a vivid vision of the complexities that women have to fight against, yet clarifies that the issues mentioned above are very complicated.
Discussing the problems of sexuality and feminism in her essay, the writer does not offer the solution, yet involves the reader in the process of searching for the answer.
Speaking of the author’s position, one should mark that Simone de Beauvoir is obviously concerned with the role of women in the world. As the author explains, the importance of women’s accomplishments is diminished and the world has lost the idea of what makes a woman. “There is no longer any place for woman as such (6),” Simone de Beauvoir says with Vitter sarcasm.
In addition, Simone de Beauvoir makes it obvious that the idea of what a real woman is has been distorted and put completely topsy-turvy. Apparently, the XX century understanding of a woman is narrowed to a purely biological definition with little place for the psychological and emotional issues left.
Hence, there is no doubt that the world must not take into account the notorious prejudices concerning women, but to consider the peculiarities of female gender from scientific and psychological viewpoint.
According to the author, one of the concerns is that “speaking of certain women, connoisseurs declare that they are not women, although they are equipped with a uterus like the rest” (6). Therefore, Simone de Beauvoir makes it evident that the idea of what makes a woman is completely confused.
However, at certain point, it seems that Simone de Beauvoir exaggerates. The era when women were completely deprived of their rights is long gone, and women have obtained the same privileges as men. Hence, these are only the prejudices that still have their impact on women’s lives.
Still, the article in question seems rather convincing, for it offers rather critical observation of the subject and creates quite an objective vision of the situation concerning the feminist issue. One of the most brilliant articles concerning women and their position in the society, Simone de Beauvoir’s work is both insightful and calling for certain actions.
Obviously, the work of Simone de Beauvoir offers an extensive and caustic analysis of the role of women in the middle of the XX century. Making a detailed description of the women’s position in the hierarchy of the mid-XX-century society, the author makes it clear that the feministic endeavors to establish equality among men and women are long gone with the ideas and morals of the XIX century.
However, it seems that the problem of women’s authority and the role of women in the world can be somewhat reinforced and further feministic moods has been considerably exaggerated and further development of women’s role can be enhanced.
To achieve this, Simone de Beauvoir marks, one should consider women not only from the sociological point of view, but also incorporating the impact of the “physiological, psychological, or economic forces” (Simone de Beauvoir 19). Therefore, the author supposes that further development that will favor women’s role in the modern world is possible.