BEAUVOIR, SIMONE DE

Beauvoir, Simone de: translation

(1908–1986)

French feminist philosopher and novelist. Born in Paris, de Beauvoir studied at the Sorbonne, and became famous when she wrote the classic study of women's oppressionLe Deuxième Sexe(1949, trs. asThe Second Sex, 1953). This is the first influential work of feminist philosophy to distinguish between biological sexual difference and the socially imposed categories of gender. Before that her concern was to develop a non-solipsistic, social existentialism, in which an individual's freedom is only achieved in communication with others equally free. De Beauvoir's long association with Sartre is not usually regarded as an example of this equality. It culminated inLes Cérémonies des adieux(1981, trs. asAdieux: a Farewell to Sartre, 1984), an account of the last years of Sartre's life published a year after his death. Autobiographical writings includeMémoires d’une jeune fille rangée(1958, trs. asMemoirs of a Dutiful Daughter, 1959) andUne morte très douce(1964, trs. asA Very Easy Death, 1964).