I was thinking about Sartre's view on how identity and values are only defined through our consciousness which then allows us to determine our individual meaning to life. While doing some research I ran across a statement by Sartre's contemporary Simone de Beauvoir, "One is not born a woman, but becomes one" and I wondered how existentialism played a part in the feminism.
In Beauvoir's book, The Second Sex she focuses on a woman's sexuality and on existentialism. Her main argument is the role of men and how since they have always had the upper hand in society, woman have always been shaped by them. She also focuses on "The Other" stating that from the start women are always considered the other because of the way the social latter works out with men holding the top spot. She also argues that historically woman have always had this idea that men are the model on which they shape themselves. And this attitude holds women back from being able to change the conception of what is normal.
Here is where existentialism comes into play. Beauvoir also argued that women are just as capable of choice as men. She says women must move beyond from being beings in themselves to a transcended position becoming beings for themselves and taking responsibility for their world and choosing freedom.
http://www.ruzovyamodrysvet.sk/chillout5_items/4/1/2/412_92f5e9.pdf
http://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/ethics/de-beauvoir/2nd-sex/introduction.htm
This is a very interesting topic that I wish we had gotten the chance to talk about in class. I believe Sartre's philosophy extends to everyone regardless of their sex. This examination of existentialist philosophy in consideration of gender roles however does provide for a whole new line of dialogue concerning just what it means to have an identity -- specifically the models for male and female within our own culture. While a person is ultimately responsible for that identity, I am sure that the introduction of Sartre's principles would give a new understanding and several definitions to the play between the sexes.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it may also be important to keep in mind that ability of a person to transcend the fact of their sex -- whether it is in bad faith or not -- does make the importance of that role also able to be neglected. Therefore, whether the sexs are said to be equal or not as part of their facticity, there still remains an ability of an being-within-the-world to operate on a plane separate from this identifier.