西蒙波伏瓦《第二性》

SimonedeBeauvoir:IntroductiontotheSecondSexMarch22,2006S.deBeauvoirandJ.P.SartreTheSecondSexWomanasthesecondsexThesecondsexderivedfromthefirstsexWomeninthepositionofthe“other”Whatdoesitmeantobean“other”?IandtheotherWeandtheotherTheSecondSex(1949)BeginningofsecondwaveoffeminismMainideaofthebookWomenasthesecondsexThesecondsexasderivedfromthefirstsexWomenhavebeendefinedassecondarytomenwhohavebeenseenastheprimarysexDualityofthesexesDualityofsexesinthehistoryofideasThemaleandthefemaleacc.totraditionalunderstandingthatgoesbacktoancientphilosophyThemaleistherationalbeing,thefemaledeviatesfromthemaleThomasAquinas:“Thefemaleisanimperfectmale”TraditionalunderstandingofdualityofthesexesMaleRationalityCultureMind,soulTheroleofmenistobepaterfamiliasandgovernsocietyFemaleBodyNatureEmotionsTheroleofwomenistobearandrearchildrenWomenaccordingtotraditionaldualityofthesexesWomenare“dangerous”inthepublicspherebecausetheyare“unprdictable”astheyaredeterminedbytheiremotions(Hegel)WomenshouldnottobeallowedtotakepartinpoliticsWomenshouldkeepsilentinthechurch(ApostlePaul)TraditionaldualityofthesexesandEssentialismAccordingtotraditionaldualisitictheoriesaboutsexualdifference:SexualdifferenceisunderstoodtobebasedondifferentanatomyofthesexesTheanatomyofwomenpredestinesthemtofulfillcertainrolesWomenarethus“essentially”differentfrommenOldbelievethatthereisawomen’snatureoressenceThisbeliefisthebasisoftraditionalideasaboutthedivisionofsexualrolesinsocietyEssentialismaboutsexualdifferenceWomen´sessence=womenhavecertainattributes,allwomenandeverywhereandatalltimesThisisbiologicalessentialismAccordingtoitwomenhavebiologicalbasisthatmakesthemcognitivelyandmorallydifferentfrommen(lessrationalandlessmorallyaccountable)EssentialismEssentialismaboutsexualdifferenceisthereforeaverymuchcriticizeddoctrineImpossibledoctrine:EssencemeansthatallwomenhavetobeinacertainwayIfthereisoneexceptiontothisitisimpossibletotalkaboutessenceofallwomenIsitneverthelesspossbletotalkaboutsexualdifference?SexualdifferenceMenandwomenaredifferent,biologicallyAretheydifferentpsychologically,cognitively?Perhapsnotmuchmorethanmenaredifferentfromoneanother,justaswomenaredifferentfromoneanotherButarethere“tendencies”or“styles”thatarecommontowomenandcommontomenthatcouldallowustodefinesexualdifference?PerhapsEssentialismHastherebeenanessentialismaboutmen?AccordingtoBeauvoirnottothesamedegreeasaboutwomenMenhavebeenassociatedwithbeing“human”.Thehumanisman.WomanhasthusbeenconsideredlessthanhumaninthehistoryofourcultureMenhavebeenthemeasureaccordingtowhichwomenhavebeendefined.Thewomanisdefinedaccordingtowhichshelacksbeingaman(Aristotle)BeauvoirAretherereallywomen?asksBeauvoirShemeans,isthereawoman’sessence?ShedeniesthatWomenandmenarehoweverdifferentTheirdifferencesaredeterminedbyhistorical,socialcircumstances,andalsodifferentbodiesThatdoesnothavetoleadtobiologicalessentialismSexandgenderToavoidessentialismaboutsexualdifferenceanglo-americanfeministsmakethedistinctionbetweenSexandGenderSexisbiologicalsexGenderhastodowiththesocial,historicaldeterminatesofthedifferenceofmenandwomenSexandGenderThisdistinctionisbasedontheideaofsocialconstructionofthedifferencesbetweenmenandwomenBeauvoir:“Oneisnotbornawoman,butbecomesawoman”SexualdifferenceSexualidentityisneverthelessnotonlycultural(determinedbyculture)social(producedbysociety)discursive(producedbydiscourses)orvolitional(freechoice)italsohasabasisinthebodyBeauvoirsthesisisthusthatbeingamanorawomandeterminesthelifeofusallTheSecondsexItmattersofwhatsexoneisbornMenhavebetterchances,haveabetterpositionofpowerWomenhavelesspowerinpolitics,insocietyWomenarepoorer(stillwomenonlyoneca3%-5%ofthewealthoftheworld)Womenarenotasfreeasmen,acc.toBeauvoirItisbecausewomenhavebeendefinedasbeing“other”,asbeingdifferentWhyabookaboutthesecondsex?WomenhavetodefinetheirsituationTobeawomanisbeinginacertainpositionMenhavenothadtodefinetheirpositioninthesamemanneraccordingtoBeauvoirAmaleis“man”Womaniswhatdeviatesfrombeing“man”ThereforewomenhavetodefinetheirpositionanewFirstandsecondsexBeingthesecondseximpliesthatwomanisseenas“thesex”Thereforeemphasisonwomen’sbody,sexualityThemaleisseenastheone,as“man”andrelatedtohiscognitivecapatiesThefemaleistheother,thelesserAllthatisdifferenct,negativeTheotherWhydidwomenbecomethesecondsexandlandinthepositionoftheother?Beauvoir’sexplanationThedivisionofconsciousnessin“self”and“other”SelfdefinesitselfbydemarcatingitselfagainstanotherSelfhasmorepowerandcan“other”theotherone,puthim/herinthepositionoftheotherIndividualsandsocietydothis(Iandother,Weandothers)IandotherHegeliandilaecticofmasterandslave:thestruggleforpowerandrecognitionbetweentwoindividualsThestrongeronebecomes“master”,theonewholoosesthefightbecomesthe“other”NotonlywomenareinthepositionoftheotherOtherminorities(BlacksinUS,Jewsetc.)SystemofoppositesWomenarenotaminorityinthesamemannerasforexampleBlacksintheUSWomenhavealwaysbeenwithmenWomendonothaveacommonhistorylikeBlacksandlikeJewsWomenhavenotformedthemselves(acc.toBeauvoir)asagroup,likeotherminoritiesItisnowbeginning,sheclaimsWomenarebeginningtorefusebeingtheotherThesituationofwomeninFranceinthefirsthalfofthe20thcenturyAcc.toBeauvoirwomenandblacksareseenastheyaremorebodies,moreanimalicTheonewhoisinsecureabouthismasculinityismorearroganttowardswomenTheSecondsexwaspublished1949WomeninFrancehadrecentlygainedtherighttovoteAbortionwasillegalandevenpunishedwithdeathinthefirsthalfofthe20thcenturyPre-pilltimes,lesscontroloverprocreationthannowTimeforchangeMendonotrecognizewomenasequalsAttributesthat