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linsforest's review against another edition
Too long. Also the first book is brilliant and the second one is bland an uninteresting, and simply out of date full of literary comparison of her time. It discusses things I’m not in the least interested in so I dropped it. I’ll finish it some other time
kevinhurley's review against another edition
5.0
This was maybe the densest thing I’ve ever read but was blown away by it. Highly recommend it.
caramin's review against another edition
Can't really rate it since I found the first book to be really insightful and interesting, while the second part, before the last chapter, uses examples that, to me, felt less universal, and more pathological, less like girlhood and more like OCD or other mental disorders, which I'm not saying don't (or can't) be caused be a claustrophobia society, but those things should not be used as a universal way to look at the development of the woman's view of the self and other.
I recommend the first part and The Independent Woman, the last chapter, but the second book feels outdated, and one can see that Freud's theories were fresh out the oven.
I recommend the first part and The Independent Woman, the last chapter, but the second book feels outdated, and one can see that Freud's theories were fresh out the oven.
kcdennett's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
merramarie's review against another edition
4.0
NUNCA LO VOY A LEER PERO IBA BIEN LAS 200 PAGINAS Q ALCANCÉ A CONCENTRARME MUCHO PSICOANALASISISSSSSSS
rebboe's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
‘The Second Sex’ is a book by the French existentialist philosopher Simone de Beauvoir that was written in 1949 and largely regarded as a
‘Feminist Bible’ for de Beauvoir’s groundbreaking research and analysis. Her thesis of woman as the Other in any and all aspects of her life was brilliantly and thoroughly broken down through various lenses and topics (including love, motherhood, economics, etc.)
I was intimidated to pick up this one due to its feminist importance as well as the length. And while this book can be wordy at times, I think the translation is great, the ideas required so much expansion due to their level of novelty for the time period it was written in. My understanding of feminism has definitely expanded, offering more historical context. I enjoyed this book as its uplifted my own understanding and research interests!
dukegregory's review against another edition
3.0
A total dated mess with much to praise and much to loathe, and I'm glad to have read (and I'm glad to have read it with friends). Love her literary criticism and much of her palpable, calculated rage.
helgamharb's review against another edition
5.0
4.5
Her wings are cut and then she is blamed for not knowing how to fly.
The Second Sex is not a feminist manifesto but a comprehensive study of women’s position throughout history and the psychological reasons why women were and still are considered weaker than men and unequal to them (sometimes by women themselves, but by men in general).
Every time she acts like a human being, she is said to be imitating the male.
In this well-researched, fact-filled philosophical/historical book we come to know about the evolution of woman’s status all through the history and in addition, we examine some of the great authors’ works and how they have portrayed and perceived their women characters.
When he describes woman, each writer discloses his general ethics and the special idea he has of himself; and in her he often betrays also the gap between his world view and his egotistical dreams.
Her wings are cut and then she is blamed for not knowing how to fly.
The Second Sex is not a feminist manifesto but a comprehensive study of women’s position throughout history and the psychological reasons why women were and still are considered weaker than men and unequal to them (sometimes by women themselves, but by men in general).
Every time she acts like a human being, she is said to be imitating the male.
In this well-researched, fact-filled philosophical/historical book we come to know about the evolution of woman’s status all through the history and in addition, we examine some of the great authors’ works and how they have portrayed and perceived their women characters.
When he describes woman, each writer discloses his general ethics and the special idea he has of himself; and in her he often betrays also the gap between his world view and his egotistical dreams.