Reviews

The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir

maximum_moxie's review against another edition

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5.0

This book floored me; though it shows its age in some places and has a noticeable communist bent, it questions the framework of the world in a way which justifies its enormous length.
This is not a self-help book, and I was left somewhat depressed by the lack of concrete solutions to achieve fulfillment as a subjective human being rather than objective woman. However, the hope it does hold out was enough to entirely change my mindset. Required reading for any thoughtful or dissatisfied woman--or man.

hopedihop's review against another edition

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4.0

Schwere Kost, die man aber mal gelesen haben sollte. Vielleicht nicht als Einstieg in den Feminismus ;)

Tragisch ist, dass ein Buch, dass vor 70 Jahren geschrieben wurde immernoch so aktuell ist. Das meiste kann man in unsere Zeit übertragen - und da sage jemand, wir brauchen keinen Femnismus mehr.

Am besten fand ich die Kapitel:
"Montherlant oder das Brot des Abscheus" - Ihre Verachtung wird deutlich und es ist einfach herrlich zu lesen wie sie ihn zerpflückt - einen Autoren von dem ich noch nie gehört habe und das auch nicht misse.
"Die Mutter" - dieses Kapitel beschäftigt sich u.a. mit Abtreibungen und kann genauso in die heutige Zeit übernommen werden. Gerade deswegen hat mich dieses Kapitel auch sehr erschüttert.

jacket7227's review against another edition

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challenging reflective

sophoph's review

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will come back to this at some point

tometrinket's review against another edition

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challenging informative slow-paced

3.25

emma3244's review against another edition

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challenging informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.75

magnhildk's review against another edition

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5.0

ÅARKJSISHDJWJW

icequeen37's review against another edition

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3.0

Dear existentialists, enough with the angst already. The underlying idea of the book painting men as the oppressors and women as the oppressed doesn't really do good to either women or men in terms of philosophy of the society. It puts us both into a kind of situation where no one really acts or reacts, we all just simply abide by these written and unwritten rules and sail on. In reality, most people aren't that inactive. What I mean is, this definitely pivotal text on its original publication, feels antiquated in this day and age. Categorizing women as victims who should not be victimized, is still a categorization and reeks badly of essentialism. People do not have a single unchanging essence, enough already. De Beauvoir eventually loses herself in her own philosophy by way of repetitions and aggression.

Having said that, I do still believe everyone should read at least parts of this excruciatingly long book. It can be useful for academic purposes or merely for good debates. It is important for the overall feminist thought, however Eve Ensler or Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie are in my opinion much more applicable and open-minded and their writing beautifully thought-provoking.

lajambonnade's review against another edition

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challenging informative reflective medium-paced

3.5

alexandrabrooks's review

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informative reflective slow-paced

3.5