Becoming Woman: A Genealogical Study of Gender Justice in Simone de Beauvoir’s Philosophy

Abstract

In this paper I explore Simone de Beauvoir’s theory of gender justice through a genealogical examination of the historical creation of womanhood. The research claims that the label of “woman” is not a permanent biological fact but a social and historical identity constructed by cultural traditions, patriarchal institutions and uneven power relations. Beauvoir’s idea of “becoming woman” is a potent philosophical lens through which to explore the creation, preservation, and change of gender identities throughout time. Using a genealogical perspective, the study traces the historical processes through which women have been positioned as the “Other” and how these processes continue to shape modern gender inequality. In addition to this, the research also reads Beauvoir’s existential philosophy as linking freedom, responsibility and ethical agency to the battle for gender justice. It claims that real equality cannot be reached by legal rights or political changes alone, but also involves a shift of social values, cultural practices and institutional structures that sustain gender inequality. The study also reinterprets Beauvoir’s views in conversation with modern feminist philosophy to show how they remain relevant for tackling current challenges such as identity, acknowledgment, equality and human dignity. It insists that Beauvoir’s critique of patriarchy is still a valuable philosophical resource for comprehending gender inequality in both historical and present manifestations. The study finds that a genealogical reading of Beauvoir not only shows the history of the constitution of femininity but also a positive framework for the promotion of gender justice based on reciprocal acknowledgment, existential freedom and equal human dignity. Beauvoir’s philosophy continues to provide important theoretical insights for current feminist thinking and the struggle for a more equitable, inclusive and democratic society.