A1 Journal article (refereed)
Subjugation, freedom, and recognition in Poulain de la Barre and Simone de Beauvoir (2024)
Reuter, M. (2024). Subjugation, freedom, and recognition in Poulain de la Barre and Simone de Beauvoir. British Journal for the History of Philosophy, 32(2), 301-318. https://doi.org/10.1080/09608788.2022.2074364
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Reuter, Martina
Journal or series: British Journal for the History of Philosophy
ISSN: 0960-8788
eISSN: 1469-3526
Publication year: 2024
Publication date: 23/05/2022
Volume: 32
Issue number: 2
Pages range: 301-318
Publisher: Routledge
Publication country: United Kingdom
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09608788.2022.2074364
Publication open access: Openly available
Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/81693
Abstract
In 1949, Simone de Beauvoir cited the fairly unknown author Poulain de la Barre in an epigraph for The Second Sex (1949). When reading The Second Sex, one soon realizes that there are profound similarities between the two authors’ discussions of women’s situation. Both Poulain and Beauvoir view the subjection of women as a process that includes choice as well as force. Liberation necessarily requires overcoming opinions rooted in custom and prejudice. The article develops a comparison between the arguments of Poulain and Beauvoir in order to illuminate interesting features in the works of both authors. The focus is on similarities as well as differences. The first section examines how prejudice and the practices of men’s self-interest have contributed to the reification of women. Section 2 discusses the peculiar nature of prejudices about oneself and section 3 focuses on the metaphysical relation between freedom and materiality. Finally, section 4 examines how mutual recognition becomes possible in the context of freedom, the search for truth, and friendship.
Keywords: woman's status; submission; prejudices; objectification; freedom; recognition (philosophy); social philosophy
Free keywords: Poulain de la Barre, François; Beauvoir, Simone de; subjugation; freedom; recognition
Contributing organizations
Related projects
- Gender in Renaissance and Early Modern Philosophy
- Reuter, Martina
- Research Council of Finland
Ministry reporting: Yes
VIRTA submission year: 2022
JUFO rating: 2