Outline and critically access Beauvoir’s ideas about the place of women in contemporary society - Do Beauvoir’s criticisms have reference today?
Camelia Melody 0248743
Outline and critically access Beauvoir’s ideas about the place of women in contemporary society. Do Beauvoir’s criticisms have reference today?
Beauvoir’s has been regarded by many as ‘surely the greatest feminist theorist of our time,’and a ‘spiritual godmother to the woman’s movement.’Fallaize extends his admiration further by stating, ‘Beauvoir’s influence has been so widespread that it is impossible to draw up an exhaustive list of feminists indebted to her work.’ However, this extremely flattering image portrayed by various critics, ignores the fact that Beauvoir has been criticised as much as she has been complimented. Her work is considered by many as widely acknowledged but has not been extensively cited, especially in feminist terms. Although Beauvoir had a great influence upon the early stages in progressive feminism in the post war era, her work is now dated and hotly debated.
Beauvoir’s theories and political messages continue to be significant, even though critics try to overshadow this accomplishment with the view that her work was too closely intertwined with that of her partner and mentor, Jean-Paul Sartre. Beauvoir admitted borrowing and using many of Satire’s ideas and many critics have dismissed her work as basic plagiarism. However, I’m of the opinion that they borrowed each other’s work and they both come to different conclusions. As a result of this strong connection, Satire must be considered when one attempts to outline and critically access a theorist.
Sartre is renown for his existentialism, consciousness and his theory of humans being free in an absolute and radical manner, meaning they are not restricted, free to move within controlled spheres, making themselves what they want to be to a certain extent, an example of this is the prisoner. Many Critics continue to reiterate the idea that Beauvoir’s work is an application of the existential philosophy of Sartre’s work, concerning the woman’s situation. Diane Raymond states that the central thesis behind the idea that under patriarchy woman is the other, which she claims, is an extension of Sartre’s ‘phenomenology of interpersonal relationships,’ and its ‘dynamic of consciousness struggling against consciousness.’ Also, Sonia Kruks the political philosopher, wrote that ‘the central claim of The Second Sex – ‘one is not born a woman but becomes one,’ presupposes Sartre’s argument that ‘existence precedes essence’: that human beings become what they are on the basis of no pre-given necessity or nature.’ The evidence certainly has a Sartrean influence, however, this is very likely because if their close relationship, as many are influenced most by those closet to you. Beauvoir herself claimed she had many influences, including Sartre, but also Henri Bergson, a dominant figure in French philosophy. Many commentators consider Beauvoir’s writings as featuring a better structure and consistency than that of Sartre, even though he considered himself as her mentor, perhaps giving an ironic twist, the woman in reality, actually being better than the man. The relationship between Sartre and Beauvoir can appear troubling at times, as her absolute devotion to him was believed to be beyond reason, an example of this is when she persistently referred to herself as ‘Sartre’s disciple.’ This perhaps portrays a feminist going against their morals and being dependent on a man, looking up to one, especially supported by the religious reference.
