Simon Beauvoir Second Sex Analysis

Whether its liberal, radical, or social feminism, its clear society still hasn’t adequately answered “the woman question”. There have been many writers and theorist who have attempted to solve this societal issue—one of the best known is Simon Beauvoir’s piece “The Second Sex”. In this piece Beauvoir makes an argument that women are disproportionately intellectually behind men only because they have just now started to discover the world. Beauvoir believes a large portion of female oppression begins with the sexual dynamics between a man and a woman. Fellow feminist Nima Naghibi takes a different stance on what most stifles women’s development. Using Iran as her example, Naghibi shows how government harms women by not giving them a choice
Beauvoir argues a woman is disadvantaged when it comes to love and sex. She states, “especially in the matter of love she abnegates herself instead of asserting herself” and then goes on to point out that this “tradition… is the deep-seeded reason for her mediocrity.” Beauvoir’s argument here is that women tend to give into men instead of demanding equality; they abnegate instead of asserting. She makes herself clear—women give up more (liberty) when it comes to sex and love. Beauvoir points out that even when a woman seduces a man, it is still perceived as the man conquering the woman while she is being taken. They feel as though they have given a special part of themselves away and it is for this reason Beauvoir believes women get attached to men more easily. These feelings—according to Beauvoir—are
Following the 1979 Iranian revolution came the veiling act ratified in 1983. Once again, the West condemned the hijab calling it oppressive and backward; some Iranian feminists endorsed this perception and some recognized the issue wasn’t simply black and white. Forcing a woman to do anything is exercising power over her and thereby oppressing her. Beauvoir and Naghibi would both agree that perceptions are powerful tools that can shape government laws or psychological perceptions of oneself. Naghibi is essentially arguing that outsider perspectives have damaged and contorted the meaning of the hijab so much so that it has symbolized both liberation and oppression at the same time. External views have influenced internal turmoil and deprived the woman of choice. The power of choice and voice has been taken from the woman who wears the head scarf and caused their advancements to regress. For example, the unveiling act caused women to decide to stay at home to avoid humiliation and harassment in the work place for not wearing a hijab. To stop regression and advocate for a truly free woman, Naghibi advocates for the power of choice where women choose what they are comfortable wearing—not what others tell them should be