Word Count: 1386 Devine 1!

Katherine Devine

Dr. Durmus

PL 265-52

15 December 2016

Existentialism Meets Feminism

Feminism. A political movement aimed at the social and political equality of the sexes. It

starts with defining the injustice between the genders and seeks to establish equal opportunity

and treatment towards women. Simone de Beauvoirs text, Second Sex and Iris Marion Youngs

text, On Female Body Experience were written to bridge the gap between the sexes by providing

crucial insight aimed at combatting this ongoing injustice. With its teachings being founded in

the freedom to authentically create oneself on a path towards transcendence, phenomenological

existentialism displays a clear integration of views with that of feminism and provides the

thinking necessary to overcome the perceived inequality of genders that continues to plague our

society.

Throughout existentialist works, the notion of being able to transform ones facticity is

repeatedly stressed. Like many other existentialists, Beauvoir rejects the notion of a

predetermined essence. In saying this, an individual is born as a blank slate with the ability to

create themselves and overcome their given facticity. When applying this to the concept of

gender, Beauvoir strongly argues against socially constructed expectations of what a male or

female should be. She maintains the belief that no behavioral differences between a male and

female can be attributed to a natural, feminine essence and disregards biology as a possible

explanation for any behavioral differences there may be. Biology only accounts for our given
Word Count: 1386 Devine 2!

gender, but that gender shouldnt determine how one is expected to act. Further regarding a

biological influence, she states The conclusion is thus that fundamentally the role of the two

gametes is identical; together they create a living being in which both of them lose and surpass

themselves (Beauvoir 50). Furthermore, she doesnt address biology as an explanation for any

gender differences, but rather as a means to explain that each gender plays an equal role in

creation. As each gender has an equal role in creation, each gender should have an equal role in

society, as well. Over time, an imbalance between the sexes has developed, but Beauvoir urges

the reader to recognize each gender as equal as no sex is proven to be more superior than the

other.

The rejection of a predetermined essence is reflected in Youngs writings, as well. In her

writings, she argues that a girls tendency to throw like a girl is not due to any innate,

biological component. Furthermore, she states, In accordance with Beauvoirs understanding, I

take femininity to designate not a mysterious quality or essence that all women have by virtue of

their being biologically female. (Young 31). Instead, she argues that there is an established

structure that dictates how a woman is supposed to act. A girls tendency to constrict her body,

limiting its full use can be seen when throwing a ball, holding books, or sitting and standing.

However, Young makes it clear to the reader that the source of this behavior is not due to any

mysterious, feminine essence as she states, Rather, they have their source in the particular

situation of women as conditioned by their sexist oppression in contemporary society (Young

42). If women werent conditioned by a sexist society to limit their physical capabilities then

there would be much less of a gender divide in use of body.

Word Count: 1386 Devine 3!

When analyzing the writings of Beauvoir and Young, the inequality of the sexes becomes

evident. However, since gender is such an integral part of our society, its easy to become

unconsciously aware of the stereotypes that have developed over time. Our society is filled with

socially constructed expectations and characteristics of how one should act. These assumptions

have been so engrained in our minds that we often neglect to recognize the negative

ramifications they cause. Furthermore, many individuals dont view this as an instance of

oppression that demands immediate attention because of its less outward and overt nature.

However, Beauvoir and Young argue that you dont necessarily need an active group of

oppressors in order for oppression to occur. Rather than an active group oppressing, it is

oppression by a system. This concept of systematic oppression can be more challenging to fight

because men and women coexist and depend on one another. In many instances of oppression,

the oppressed group is able to band together and form a united front. Beauvoir addresses

womens inability to do this this by stating, It is that they lack the concrete means to organize

themselves into a unit that could posit itself in opposition (Beauvoir 28). Furthermore, she

explains how women live amongst men as ones father or husband. This tie between women and

their oppressors is unlike any other as their existence is necessary for one another.

Beauvoir and Youngs believe this oppression can be attributed to a patriarchal society in

which women are governed by the societal expectations placed on them. She believes women are

doomed to immanence if they comply with what society deems acceptable and argues it is only

through rejecting these norms that transcendence can be achieved. As women are thought to be

the care takers and tend to household duties, both Beauvoir and Young believe this leads to

uncreative, immanent projects. Furthermore, they argue these women live in bad faith by acting
Word Count: 1386 Devine 4!

purely out of societal expectations, rather than what they truly aspire to do. It is through this

societal pressure to live a certain way that Beauvoir and Young argue is an act of oppression.

However, I believe the opposite to be true and argue the real pressure now lies in the expectation

that women should seek a career. Ironically, the same women who claim to be oppressed by a

patriarchal society oppress women who voluntarily choose to stay at home and raise their

children. I think our society demeans women who stay at home as its become more expected of

women to have a career. In many instances, women feel like they have to work when their real

desire lies in being at home taking care of their children. Our society has minimized the

importance of staying home and raising children, which are the future of our society. Weve

become so engrossed in progression and defying traditional ways that weve downplayed the

importance of child rearing. Whats more important than making sure your children are being

raised right? Focus should be less on resisting societal ways for the sake of saying you resisted

them and more on providing the proper love and focused attention needed to properly raise a

child.

Beauvoir views tasks, such as cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the children as

inauthentic projects solely because she thinks thats whats expected of women. Beauvoir was so

focused on defying our system that I think she undervalued the importance of these tasks. While

there be may circumstances in which a woman takes on the homemaker role because she feels

obligated to do so, it is unfair to generalize this as always the case. Whos to say staying at home

isn't an invaluable job with the potential to lead to creative, authentic projects? Who is she to

denote the desire to stay at home and complete these tasks as disingenuous and a result of

internalized oppression when that is solely a matter of judgment. Her belief that acting in ways
Word Count: 1386 Devine 5!

reflective of societal expectations is an instance of bad faith further substantiates the criticism

that existentialism is a philosophy of subjectivity.

Without both sexes acknowledgment of each other as equally capable individuals

deserving of equal treatment, the vicious cycle of gender oppression will continue. Beauvoir

continually expresses her belief that the perceived feminine essence will continue to be

perpetuated unless women begin to fight their immanence and work towards change. The

importance of accepting ones responsibility is repeatedly expressed throughout existentialist

works and this theoretical framework offers the foundation necessary for an oppressed individual

to take control and fight the system. Our society needs to stop pitting the two genders against

each other as it only leads to a greater divide. Why dont we embrace and appreciate our natural

differences instead of constantly comparing and situating the blame on others? Beauvoir and

Young use phenomenological existentialism as a means to resolve this ongoing source of conflict

and write in the hopes that people recognize the power they have as an individual to ignite real

change aimed at the betterment of our society.

Word Count: 1386 Devine 6!

Works Cited

Beauvoir, Simone. The Second Sex. Vintage Books, 2011.

Marion Young, Iris. On Female Body Experience: Throwing Like a Girl and Other Essays.

Oxford University Press, 2005.