Presented By: Thomas Floyd & Carley Crosby

“ one is not born but rather becomes a woman”

A little Family Info.A little Family Info.• Full name is Simone-Ernestine-Lucie-Full name is Simone-Ernestine-Lucie-

Marie Bertrand de BeauvoirMarie Bertrand de Beauvoir

• Born January 9, 1908 into a bourgeois Born January 9, 1908 into a bourgeois (middle class) family.(middle class) family.

• Born to parents Georges Bertrand De Born to parents Georges Bertrand De Beauvoir and Francoise Brasseau.Beauvoir and Francoise Brasseau.

• Raised in a strict traditional Christian Raised in a strict traditional Christian upbringing provided by her mother.upbringing provided by her mother.

• Ernestine and Lucie were the names of Ernestine and Lucie were the names of her grandmothers. Marie was given to her grandmothers. Marie was given to her by her mother it was “ Her Christian her by her mother it was “ Her Christian name” to honour the Virgin Maryname” to honour the Virgin Mary

• Her father had a major influence on Her father had a major influence on Simone’s intellect for litertature. He Simone’s intellect for litertature. He provided her with great works and provided her with great works and pieces to read, and encouraged her to pieces to read, and encouraged her to start reading at a young age.start reading at a young age.

• Simone’s mother encouraged Simone to Simone’s mother encouraged Simone to grow up and be a mother and wife. grow up and be a mother and wife. Instead Simone was always interested in Instead Simone was always interested in pursing her studies and becoming a pursing her studies and becoming a writer and teacher.writer and teacher.

BackroundBackround At the age of 14, Simone had crisis of faith and there decided that there was At the age of 14, Simone had crisis of faith and there decided that there was

definitely no God. Since then she remained and atheist until her death.definitely no God. Since then she remained and atheist until her death. She attended an all girls Private Catholic Institute ( Institut Adeline Desir) until the She attended an all girls Private Catholic Institute ( Institut Adeline Desir) until the

age of 17. age of 17. This is where she met her closest friend Elizabeth Mabille (Zaza). Her death in 1929 This is where she met her closest friend Elizabeth Mabille (Zaza). Her death in 1929

had a profoundly great impact on Simone’s future thoughts and views society.had a profoundly great impact on Simone’s future thoughts and views society. Simone’s rejection of catholic religion was the primary source of her wanting to Simone’s rejection of catholic religion was the primary source of her wanting to

pursue and teach philosophy.pursue and teach philosophy. She considered marriage to her cousin She considered marriage to her cousin Jacques Champigneulle. After that she never Jacques Champigneulle. After that she never

thought about the possibility of marriage and preferred to live her life as an thought about the possibility of marriage and preferred to live her life as an intellectual.intellectual.

At 21 years of age, Beauvoir was the youngest student ever to pass the At 21 years of age, Beauvoir was the youngest student ever to pass the agrégationagrégation in in philosophy and thus became the youngest philosophy teacher in France. philosophy and thus became the youngest philosophy teacher in France.

Studies:Studies: Mathematics at Mathematics at Institut Catholique and literature Institut Catholique and literature languages at the Institut Sainte-Marie (French literature and latin)languages at the Institut Sainte-Marie (French literature and latin) Studying philosophy at the SorbonneStudying philosophy at the Sorbonne

Certificates:Certificates: History of Philosophy, General Philosophy, Greek, and Logic (1927)History of Philosophy, General Philosophy, Greek, and Logic (1927) Ethics, Sociology, and Psychology. (1928)Ethics, Sociology, and Psychology. (1928)

Major Influences on Major Influences on PhilosophyPhilosophy

The death of her closest friend The death of her closest friend Elizabeth Mabille (Zaza) in 1929. Elizabeth Mabille (Zaza) in 1929. Death was believed to be Death was believed to be meningitis, though Simone meningitis, though Simone believed it was over a broken believed it was over a broken heart. A struggle with the family heart. A struggle with the family over an arranged marriage. From over an arranged marriage. From then on Simone started to critize then on Simone started to critize the rigid Bourgeouis attitude the rigid Bourgeouis attitude towards women. Created feminist towards women. Created feminist view and social justice.view and social justice.

Her crisis with faith at the age of Her crisis with faith at the age of 14 which created her atheist view 14 which created her atheist view and desire to learn and teach and desire to learn and teach philosophy.philosophy.

World War 2.World War 2. Her visit to the United States and Her visit to the United States and

viewing the social problems viewing the social problems ranging from class inequalities ranging from class inequalities and racismand racism

Her embrace for communism and Her embrace for communism and critism of French colonization.critism of French colonization.

Her romance Nelson Algren. Her romance Nelson Algren. Simone wrote about his personal Simone wrote about his personal lifelife

Influences Cont..Influences Cont.. Her colleague, lover and friend Jean-Paul Satre. Simone did the exact thing Her colleague, lover and friend Jean-Paul Satre. Simone did the exact thing

in which she advised woman not to do. She allowed for Jean-Paul Satre in which she advised woman not to do. She allowed for Jean-Paul Satre take credits for her efforts.take credits for her efforts.

The love triangle between herself, Jean-Paul Satre and her student Olga The love triangle between herself, Jean-Paul Satre and her student Olga KosakiewiczKosakiewicz

Her mothers death. This lead Simone to write a memoir of emotions and Her mothers death. This lead Simone to write a memoir of emotions and similar circumstances situations to many daughters. It was a moving notion similar circumstances situations to many daughters. It was a moving notion of death, which was always a fascinating topic for Simone.of death, which was always a fascinating topic for Simone.

Her student Slyvie Le Bon. Slylvie encouraged Simone to become more Her student Slyvie Le Bon. Slylvie encouraged Simone to become more active in the feminist movement in France and throughout the world. active in the feminist movement in France and throughout the world. Through Le Bon’s encouragement Simone believed the feminist movement Through Le Bon’s encouragement Simone believed the feminist movement was too much of just theories. Therefore she found it hard for working was too much of just theories. Therefore she found it hard for working class woman to become active within it.class woman to become active within it.

Pieces of WorksPieces of Works

She came to stay. Published in 1943 (written from 1935-1937)

This was influenced by her three way relationship with Jean-Paul and Olga. The novel was a reflection of Simone de Beauvoirs conception of herself in a relationship with others. It was an attempt about living with relationships with “consciousness authentically”. The third person in the love triangle was to challenge the other two people to relate to each other with genuine reciprocity. This novel successfully gained her the first of many public recognition.

Continued..Continued..

The Blood of The Blood of Others (1945)Others (1945)

Mostly Influenced Mostly Influenced By World War 2.By World War 2.

Dealt with factors Dealt with factors of resistance of resistance during the War.during the War.

The Second Sex! (1949)The Second Sex! (1949)

Even though Simone was recognized before, “The Second Sex” was the most influential piece of work which established her not only as a philosophical leader, but also a political one.

The work was influenced by her relationship with Jean-Paul Satre. She always let John-Paul take credit for her work. Giving into the male figure. Therefore she wrote this piece of work in regards to women, for them to not allow that.

Influenced by the situation of the United States that she observed during her tour in 1947. The critical social problems which was a result of inequality and racism among everyone.

Her work was meant to be more political and philosophical than about sexuality.

The second volume was realised in November 1949 Derived from existentialist point of view.

SummarySummary

“Woman is well placed to describe society, the world, the epoch towhich she belongs, but only up to a certain point. Truly great worksare those that put the world entirely in question. Now that womandoesn't do. She will critique, she will contest in detail; but to put theworld completely into question one must feel oneself to be pro foundly responsible for the world. Now she isn't to the extent thatit's a world of men; she doesn't take charge in the way the greatartist does. She doesn't radically contest the world, and this is whyin the history of humanity there isn't a woman who has created agreat religious or philosophical system, or even a truly great ide ology; for that, what's necessary is in some sense to do away witheverything that's given [faire table rase de tout le donné]—as Descartesdid away with all knowledge—and to start afresh. Well, woman, byreason of her condition, isn't in a position to do that.”

-Simone de Beauvoir

In Other Words..In Other Words..

Simone’s main proponents are the Simone’s main proponents are the fact that woman are restricted to fact that woman are restricted to certain components in the world. certain components in the world. This restriction from generation to This restriction from generation to generation has limited woman’s generation has limited woman’s abilities to make primary abilities to make primary influences in the world.influences in the world.

A main problem foreseen, is the A main problem foreseen, is the limited view that woman have on limited view that woman have on the world. This is because of the the world. This is because of the limits that have been placed on limits that have been placed on them from men. Woman don’t’ them from men. Woman don’t’ question. “Woman don’t put the question. “Woman don’t put the world into question” as previously world into question” as previously stated.stated.

Since woman have been placed Since woman have been placed behind men for so many behind men for so many generations, they are not in the generations, they are not in the place to step ahead, to start new. place to step ahead, to start new.

One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.

No biological, psychological or economic destiny defines what or No biological, psychological or economic destiny defines what or who A woman is. None of these factors assumes the position in who A woman is. None of these factors assumes the position in society that woman must fulfill. Therefore” society that woman must fulfill. Therefore” it is the whole of civilization that creates this product, intermediate between male and eunuch, that we call feminine.”

* Eunuch- a man who has been castrated and is incapable of - a man who has been castrated and is incapable of reproduction* reproduction*

So there is no definition of a woman. Just the counter point to a So there is no definition of a woman. Just the counter point to a man, with obvious sexual differences. Therefore, it is a man’s man, with obvious sexual differences. Therefore, it is a man’s world as described.world as described.

From early childhood, one is not self aware of the sexual From early childhood, one is not self aware of the sexual differences. They themselves are unable to grasp at the ideas, but differences. They themselves are unable to grasp at the ideas, but it is from others intervention that they become “doomed” as the it is from others intervention that they become “doomed” as the concept of sexual differences is forced upon them.concept of sexual differences is forced upon them.

A Man’s World.A Man’s World. “Women are still, for the most part, in a state of subjection.

It followsthat woman sees herself and chooses herself not insofar as she existsfor herself [pour soi] but as man defines her. So we must first de scribe her as men dream her, since her being-for-men is one of theessential factors of her concrete condition.”

Beauvoir is saying that the “being-for-men” is the main purpose for women's’ lives. Therefore this idea is the primary factor for the constraints on women and their thoughts and actions.

Reflects existensionalism; of how they view themselves, their place in society and their choices.

Ironic of the fact that Simone is labouring under these exact circumstances in which she is proposing to other woman and the world. It is in regards to Jean-Paul Satre.

The Ethics of The Ethics of AmbiguityAmbiguity

Written in 1947Written in 1947 Explored the concepts of inner and outer FreedomExplored the concepts of inner and outer Freedom Husser influenced Beauvoir’s thesis by introducing her to Husser influenced Beauvoir’s thesis by introducing her to

intentionalityintentionality Ambiguity is identified with failure.Ambiguity is identified with failure. 3 components of intentionability3 components of intentionability Meaning-disclosing, Meaning-making, and Meaning-desiring.Meaning-disclosing, Meaning-making, and Meaning-desiring. There is Intentionability of consciousness in 2 waysThere is Intentionability of consciousness in 2 ways -Discovering the world (disclose the meaning of being)-Discovering the world (disclose the meaning of being) -Author of the world’s meaning ( bringing meaning to the -Author of the world’s meaning ( bringing meaning to the

world)world) In the 1In the 1stst mode-activities express freedom to discover mode-activities express freedom to discover

meaningmeaning In the 2In the 2ndnd mode- It exists mode- It exists

as bringing freedom to the world.as bringing freedom to the world.

Continued…Continued…

Freedom along with mood: A persons mood defines their actions Freedom along with mood: A persons mood defines their actions and thought process which in turn affects their freedom.and thought process which in turn affects their freedom.

One will never fulfill our passions for meaning- we will never be One will never fulfill our passions for meaning- we will never be able to reveal the meaning of life.able to reveal the meaning of life.

Her ethics deals with secular humanism- rejects the ideas of God Her ethics deals with secular humanism- rejects the ideas of God and humanity.and humanity.

Famous quote in which Beauvoir argues against.Famous quote in which Beauvoir argues against. Dostoevsky’s Grand Inquisitor “If God is dead, everything is Dostoevsky’s Grand Inquisitor “If God is dead, everything is

permitted”permitted” As Beaurvoir sees it, when God is not there to pardon our sins we As Beaurvoir sees it, when God is not there to pardon our sins we

are 100% responsible for our actions.are 100% responsible for our actions. Ethics insists evil resides in denial of freedom. Therefore people Ethics insists evil resides in denial of freedom. Therefore people

are responsible for ensuring the conditions of freedomare responsible for ensuring the conditions of freedom Then, one cannot affirm nor live in freedom without affiriming the Then, one cannot affirm nor live in freedom without affiriming the

freedom of others.freedom of others. The serious world affects our freedom, yet creates it.The serious world affects our freedom, yet creates it.

Values of Simone’s TheoriesValues of Simone’s Theories

The Second Sex: The Second Sex: Changed the situation of womanChanged the situation of woman With regard to the feminist movement, she herself was With regard to the feminist movement, she herself was

responsible.responsible. Brought about the reality to woman, of a man’s world.Brought about the reality to woman, of a man’s world. Clarifies the implications in which man poses upon woman.Clarifies the implications in which man poses upon woman.

Ethics of Ambiguity:Ethics of Ambiguity: Expanded the theory to show freedom requires the freedom of Expanded the theory to show freedom requires the freedom of

others for it to actualized. Everyone must have same rights in others for it to actualized. Everyone must have same rights in legal systems.legal systems.