A mulher como o segundo sexo [?]

Abstract

The following article aims to a interpretation of the Simone de Beauvoir’s book, The Second Sex, published in 1949, in the matter of alterity like a philosofical problem which focuses directly on the Woman’s concept and consequently on the distinction of that with a relation to the concept to being. Based on this objective, this discussion will be held Beyond the dichotomy of seeing penis versus vagina, man versus woman. The french philosopher’s diferential in analyzing such binary oppositions is on the perception of her existencialist analysis of Woman as the Other, as a social construction and not just as a biological heritage. The chapters of the book above mentioned are estructured to problematize the possible arguments which try to impose a condition of submission to the women. For this explanation, arguments are used that envolve various areas, like: biology, psychoanalysis and historical materialism. The author also announces that, by the fact of the mankind to be determined from the masculine, the man defines a woman relative to him, and not in itself, then being considered a dependent being. The existentialist philosophy is constituted by the subjectification process of the subject, in this way, the construction of femininity is understood according to Beauvoir, from the ethical understanding of the Subject's action so that the analysis is between the singular and the universal. Thus, by understanding itself as an Absolute Subject, man establishes Woman as the Other Absolute. Consequently, the Woman differs and determinates her in relation to man, and not to herself. When the philosopher claims “No one is born a woman, becomes a woman”, she considers that doesn’t exist a feminine essence, but highlights that being a Woman is a construction process. Beauvoir believes individuals are socially and culturally constructed. It is a production that was seized through socialization, whose purpose is keeping the man in the domination position.