Date of Award
1996
Document Type
Research Paper
First Advisor
Gary Scott
Second Advisor
Maurine Behrens
Abstract
This project is a research paper regarding conceptions of women’s role in society throughout time. In this paper, I shall address the question ‘does the physiology of woman restrict her to a contingent existence, or can she actualize different individualized potential which were formerly reserved exclusively for men?’ by first examining the contribution Simone de Beauvoir makes, illuminating one step in the process of liberation. This will perhaps, shed light upon the ‘footing’ in other areas of the path. I will frame the discussion by briefly outlining some basic philosophical concepts necessary for an adequate analysis. Then I will explicate the first widely acknowledged work on the subject, The Second Sex, by Simone de Beauvoir. The next step will be to correlate de Beauvoir’s ideas with those of a contemporary French philosopher. Luce Irigaray, as expounded in two works, primarily This Sex Which Is Not One. The insight gained from a synthesis and evaluation of the thoughts of these two influential feminist philosophers holds promise for women today in their attempt to overcome the problems they face in throwing off the weight of previous conceptions of women.
Recommended Citation
Lauprecht, J. (1996). The View from the Other Side. Retrieved from https://poetcommons.whittier.edu/scholars/298