Simone de Beauvoir

Feminist philosopher who redefined gender politics through existentialist analysis of women's oppression.

Simone de Beauvoir (1908–1986) catalyzed the second-wave feminist movement with her 1949 treatise The Second Sex, which declared: 'One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.' This existentialist examination of gender as a social construct challenged biological determinism, arguing that patriarchal systems historically confined women to 'immanence' rather than allowing 'transcendence' through self-determination.

Her partnership with Jean-Paul Sartre embodied radical intellectual equality, though her contributions were often overshadowed. De Beauvoir's novels like She Came to Stay and The Mandarins (winner of the Prix Goncourt) explored complex ethical dilemmas. Later works like The Coming of Age extended her analysis to societal marginalization of the elderly.

A vocal advocate for abortion rights and anticolonial causes, she signed the 1971 Manifesto of the 343 admitting to illegal abortions. Her open relationship with Sartre and bisexuality made her a controversial but iconic figure. De Beauvoir's interdisciplinary approach—merging philosophy, literature, and activism—created a blueprint for modern intersectional feminism.