Introduction
What is a woman? It is difficult to discuss feminist and gender theory without addressing this question. In fact, the way womanhood is viewed affects many aspects of different feminist perspectives, so it can guide theorists when discussing causes and solutions to gender equality. The theorists of different feminist perspectives will have different answers to this question, and the distinctions are important. Simone de Beauvoir focuses on this question in her article, “The Second Sex.” She states that a woman “is the Other” (2012, p. 35). Her conceptualization of womanhood has similarities and differences with radical feminists who focus more on essentialism. The differences in ideas among gender and feminist theorists affect how …show more content…
She explains how men do not have to use their gender when defining themselves, but it is something that woman have to do. She describes men as the “essential” and woman as “inessential” (de Beauvoir, 1952, p. 35). This description basically means that people consider men to be the standard person while women are a deviation of a man. Society describes women only in regards to men. “He is the Subject, he is the Absolute- she is the Other” (de Beauvoir, 1952, p. 35). They cannot exist as a subject all of their own. This is how de Beauvoir arrives at the idea of saying that women are the Other. The way women are treated and spoken about is always in reference to men. de Beauvoir sums her idea up in a single sentence, Women are considered the lesser sex because they are lacking in typical “male” qualities. Women are unable to define themselves and exists outside of references made to men. Because of this, they can never be the Absolute or the …show more content…
An important component of radical feminism is essentialism. Mann defines essentialism as, “an approach that attributes certain qualities, traits, or behaviors to all members of a group” (2012, p. 414). Many radical feminists apply this idea to women. In fact, a common critique of radical feminism is how they “ignore important differences between women” (Mann 110). Essentialism would likely influence how radical feminists conceptualize womanhood. A radical feminist might feel as though a womanhood is determined biologically. In order for all women to be an essential group, they would have to be born that way that all women have the exact same experiences at the same points in their
What is a woman? It is difficult to discuss feminist and gender theory without addressing this question. In fact, the way womanhood is viewed affects many aspects of different feminist perspectives, so it can guide theorists when discussing causes and solutions to gender equality. The theorists of different feminist perspectives will have different answers to this question, and the distinctions are important. Simone de Beauvoir focuses on this question in her article, “The Second Sex.” She states that a woman “is the Other” (2012, p. 35). Her conceptualization of womanhood has similarities and differences with radical feminists who focus more on essentialism. The differences in ideas among gender and feminist theorists affect how …show more content…
She explains how men do not have to use their gender when defining themselves, but it is something that woman have to do. She describes men as the “essential” and woman as “inessential” (de Beauvoir, 1952, p. 35). This description basically means that people consider men to be the standard person while women are a deviation of a man. Society describes women only in regards to men. “He is the Subject, he is the Absolute- she is the Other” (de Beauvoir, 1952, p. 35). They cannot exist as a subject all of their own. This is how de Beauvoir arrives at the idea of saying that women are the Other. The way women are treated and spoken about is always in reference to men. de Beauvoir sums her idea up in a single sentence, Women are considered the lesser sex because they are lacking in typical “male” qualities. Women are unable to define themselves and exists outside of references made to men. Because of this, they can never be the Absolute or the …show more content…
An important component of radical feminism is essentialism. Mann defines essentialism as, “an approach that attributes certain qualities, traits, or behaviors to all members of a group” (2012, p. 414). Many radical feminists apply this idea to women. In fact, a common critique of radical feminism is how they “ignore important differences between women” (Mann 110). Essentialism would likely influence how radical feminists conceptualize womanhood. A radical feminist might feel as though a womanhood is determined biologically. In order for all women to be an essential group, they would have to be born that way that all women have the exact same experiences at the same points in their