Life and achievements
Early life
Simone Lucie Ernestine Marie Bertrand de Beauvoir was born in Paris on January 9, 1908, to a middle-class family in Paris. Her father, Georges Bertrand de Beauvoir, was a lawyer who wanted to be an actor, and her mother, Françoise Brasseur, was a pious woman and a banker's daughter. This family was relatively wealthy; however, the war and the post-war period affected their financial situation, and they had to live a simpler life.
Beauvoir was a bright child. Her father told everyone she "thinks like a man" and would never depend on anyone because the family had lost all their wealth. She was a bright student, and she went to Cours Desir. She then pursued mathematics at the Institut Catholique de Paris and literature at the Institut Sainte-Marie.
Beauvoir's philosophical education started at the Sorbonne, where she studied with great minds and met her life partner, Jean-Paul Sartre. Some of her earlier accomplishments were passing a degree in philosophy at age 21, which made her the youngest person to do so. This success ensured her financial freedom and reinforced her decision to be a feminist.
Her early works are marked by existentialist ideas and the author's views on the role of women and other aspects of society, which are also present in her later works. Beauvoir was not exempted from various problems in her personal and professional life. Still, she did not waver in pursuing knowledge and liberation, which she would later apply to philosophy and feminism.
Legacy
Beauvoir's influence can be seen in her works on Feminist philosophy and existentialism. Her most well-known work is The Second Sex, published in 1949, one of the most significant pieces of literature in the feminist canon. The book detailed women's subjugation, and the now famous line "one is not born, but rather becomes, a woman" was a wake-up call to generations of women and men.
Significantly, The Second Sex became one of the most influential works of second-wave feminism, inspiring thinkers such as Betty Friedan, Kate Millett, and Judith Butler. Friedan, in particular, attributed the ideas expressed in The Feminine Mystique to the influence of Beauvoir's work. Beauvoir's work influenced not only the world of feminism but also the fields of literary criticism, history, philosophy, and social theory.
Beauvoir continued to be politically and socially engaged till her death; she supported women's rights, the legalization of abortion, and fought against oppression. Her association with the French League for Women's Rights in the 1970s shows her dedication to the cause and change. Beauvoir's contribution to the world can also be seen in the body of work she has left behind in the form of novels, essays, and memoirs that are still read and recommended.
This is because she also contributed to existentialism through her relationship with Sartre; therefore, she is also a philosopher in history. The concepts like freedom, oppression, and the human condition discussed by Beauvoir are still relevant in the present world and the academic sphere. She remains relevant today through the Place Jean-Paul Sartre et Simone de Beauvoir in Paris, presenting her contribution to philosophy and feminism.
Milestone moments
Jan 19, 1929
Agrégation Success
Simone de Beauvoir sat for the agrégation in philosophy and became the youngest person to pass it at age 21. This was her first step in the academic world, and it paved the way for her to become a scholar.
Her victory in the agrégation not only made her a great philosopher but also ensured her financial freedom. This was a giant leap towards embracing feminism and academic freedom for the rest of her life.
Beauvoir also gained her place in the agrégation due to her excellent performance, which led her to meet Jean-Paul Sartre, with whom she formed a life-long relationship. Their partnership would define existentialism and impact future generations of philosophers and women's rights activists.
Jun 19, 1949
The Second Sex Goes Public
This work was published when Simone de Beauvoir's The Second Sex emerged. This work questioned the norms and described the subjugation of women. It is considered one of the critical texts in feminist philosophy and contributed to the emergence of the second wave of the feminist movement.
The famous phrase "One is not born, but rather becomes a woman" challenged conventional gender norms and roles, leading to much discussion. Beauvoir's work was a detailed study of women and their existence in society, and people worldwide could relate to it.
For this reason, The Second Sex is considered one of Beauvoir's most influential works as an intellectual and a feminist. It paved the way for future generations of feminist theorists and activists. It remains one of the critical texts in gender studies and the overall discourse of feminism.
Nov 19, 1954
Goncourt Prize for The Mandarins
Simone de Beauvoir won the Prix Goncourt for The Mandarins, a novel from the immediate post-war period, a Roman à clef. The story is set in the world of the intelligentsia and depicts the author's own life and interactions.
Receiving the Prix Goncourt, the most prestigious award in French literature, acknowledged Beauvoir's writing ability, and she gained more popularity. The Mandarins is a novel based on the politics of the post-war period and human relations, and it also contains philosophical elements.
The novel's success also consolidated the author's position as a leading writer and demonstrated how she could combine storytelling with the pursuit of ideas. This acknowledgement strengthened her position in literary and philosophical society even more.
Apr 19, 1975
Jerusalem Prize Awarded
Beauvoir was awarded the Jerusalem Prize for her work on the individual in society and freedom. This award recognized her contribution to the social and philosophical sciences even after her death.
The Jerusalem Prize is given to writers who, in their works, present the concept of freedom of the individual in society, which is in tune with the belief that Beauvoir held all her life. This recognition pointed to her impact that went beyond feminist philosophy.
Thus, accepting the Jerusalem Prize, Beauvoir was recognized as a world thinker whose ideas influenced the debates on freedom, oppression, and human rights. The award honoured her for her literature and philosophy on the international level.