Simone de Beauvoir
- Born:
- January 9, 1908, Paris, France
- Died:
- April 14, 1986, Paris, France
- Nationality:
- French
- Profession(s):
- Writer, Philosopher, Feminist Theorist, Political Activist
Early Life and Education
- Born Simone Lucie Ernestine Marie Bertrand de Beauvoir into a bourgeois Parisian family.
- Received a strict Catholic education.
- Studied mathematics and philosophy at the Institut Catholique de Paris and the Sorbonne.
- Earned a degree in philosophy in 1929.
Career and Major Achievements
- Taught philosophy at various lycées from 1931 to 1943.
- Began a lifelong intellectual and romantic partnership with Jean-Paul Sartre in 1929.
- Published her first novel, L'Invitée (She Came to Stay), in 1943.
- Played a significant role in the development of existentialist thought, particularly regarding its intersection with feminism. This is central to understanding existential ethics Simone de Beauvoir biography and her overall impact.
- Became a prominent figure in the French feminist movement.
- Actively participated in political movements, advocating for women's rights and social justice.
Notable Works
- L'Invitée (She Came to Stay) (1943)
- Le Deuxième Sexe (The Second Sex) (1949)
- Les Mandarins (The Mandarins) (1954) - Winner of the Prix Goncourt
- Mémoires d'une jeune fille rangée (Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter) (1958)
- La Force de l'âge (The Prime of Life) (1960)
- La Force des choses (Force of Circumstance) (1963)
Legacy and Impact
Simone de Beauvoir's work, especially The Second Sex, had a profound influence on feminist thought and continues to inspire activism and scholarship related to gender equality. Her exploration of existentialism and its implications for women's liberation remains highly relevant.