44 pages • 1 hour read
The Second Sex
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Book Brief
746
Book • Nonfiction
1940s
1949
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir, published in 1949, explores the social construction of women’s identity, positing that women are culturally and socially made, not born. The book, divided into "Facts and Myths" and "Lived Experience," delves into historical, biological, and psychological contexts of women's oppression, examining how women are marginalized and defined in relation to men.
Informative
Contemplative
Challenging
Emotional
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Simone de Beauvoir's The Second Sex is lauded for its groundbreaking analysis of women's oppression and its role in feminist theory. Critics praise its intellectual depth and historical insight, while some note its dense prose and dated perspectives. Nevertheless, it remains a seminal work, essential for understanding gender dynamics and feminist philosophy.
Who Should Read The Second Sex?
Readers who would enjoy The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir are keen on feminist theory, existentialism, and gender studies. Fans of works like Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique and Judith Butler’s Gender Trouble will find de Beauvoir’s exploration of women's oppression and liberation thought-provoking and essential.
Friedrich Engels
Friedrich Engels
A philosopher and early theorist of the Communist movement whose work on the historical effects of private property is engaged with by Beauvoir in her critiques of gender roles.
Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud
An Austrian neurologist and founding figure of psychoanalysis whose theories on human behavior and desire are critiqued by Beauvoir in her examination of psychoanalysis.
746
Book • Nonfiction
1940s
1949
Adult
18+ years
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