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sams84 's review for:
The Second Sex
by Simone de Beauvoir
Well. I'm not exactly sure how I feel about this book. On the one hand it is generally well written, on the whole fairly easy to read and very thorough but on the other there are some aspects that are slightly outdated for my generation and others that really (sadly) aren't. These were also bits of this that I just didn't agree with, particularly some of the biological interpretations (although again this could be more that the views have since been proven incorrect), and others that irked me that much I had to put the book down and read something else (but this is because of the emotive subject matter not Beauvoir's writing).
I can certainly see why this is seen as one of the definitive texts of the modern feminist movement as Beauvoir has given a thorough analysis of the modern patriarchal society from its humble beginnings to its ingrained expectations of today. She also takes the reader through the implications of this on every stage and aspect of being female in a male world, from the early stages of childhood to the later years of life, so many of which are still very much in effect today. So much of this work resonated with me and my own experiences, particularly Beauvoir's analysis of the independent woman and the conflicts being such a woman causes, both internally and externally (although thankfully my parents and family are not part of mine).
Beauvoir's conclusion is excellently concise and if you can't bring yourself to read her work in its entirety, at least read this. She summarizes the history of the 'battle between the sexes' and shows that despite arguments to the contrary, both men and women suffer through the inequality that patriarchy encourages and both will benefit as and when true equality between the sexes is achieved. A thought provoking work that all human beings need to read, especially given the lack of progress since its first publication.
I can certainly see why this is seen as one of the definitive texts of the modern feminist movement as Beauvoir has given a thorough analysis of the modern patriarchal society from its humble beginnings to its ingrained expectations of today. She also takes the reader through the implications of this on every stage and aspect of being female in a male world, from the early stages of childhood to the later years of life, so many of which are still very much in effect today. So much of this work resonated with me and my own experiences, particularly Beauvoir's analysis of the independent woman and the conflicts being such a woman causes, both internally and externally (although thankfully my parents and family are not part of mine).
Beauvoir's conclusion is excellently concise and if you can't bring yourself to read her work in its entirety, at least read this. She summarizes the history of the 'battle between the sexes' and shows that despite arguments to the contrary, both men and women suffer through the inequality that patriarchy encourages and both will benefit as and when true equality between the sexes is achieved. A thought provoking work that all human beings need to read, especially given the lack of progress since its first publication.