44 pages 1 hour read

Simone de Beauvoir

The Second Sex

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1949

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Volume II, Part 3: “Justifications”Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Volume II: “Lived Experience”

Volume II, Part 3, Chapter 11 Summary & Analysis: “The Narcissist”

Because women must cope with contradictions and navigate barriers that come from being women, they try to cope by focusing on the self. Beauvoir has discussed how girls use diaries and try to display themselves to their community through dressing up. In adulthood, Beauvoir writes, women identify strongly with specific works of literature.

The problem with narcissism is that it prevents women from interacting with others and with society to their betterment. For example, Beauvoir gives the hypothetical example of a woman “tormented by her ego” who “does not care about establishing any real relationship with others” (680). Beauvoir argues that she becomes so obsessed with the self she has nothing more to offer herself or others except her self-image.

Volume II, Part 3, Chapters 12-13: Summary & Analysis: “The Woman in Love” and “The Mystic"

Beauvoir argues that love provides women a way to reconcile their desire for others with their narcissism. Through their love of a man, they can be validated and present their self. However, in Beauvoir’s view, there are two problems with love for women. If the man ignores the woman, she is trapped waiting for her love to be returned. However, if the man and woman consummate their love, she loses her freedom since the man often views his female lover as merely a part of himself.

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