"Let them be provided with living strength of their own, let them have the means to attack the world and wrest from it their own subsistence, and their dependence will be abolished - that of man also." -- Simone de Beauvoir
In this section, Beauvoir is claiming that all individual action is powerless. Then she makes the above statement. This leads me to question, what would it look like for women to be provided with living strength of their own?
Clearly she is advocating for independence of the woman. However, does this mean separation from men or simply not joining a relationship unless one is fully capable of taking care of themselves?
Is this even applicable today? Have woman already be provided with living strength?
From my interpretation of the passage, Beauvoir is saying that women should become self sufficient, which I think is one of her main goals for women as a gender. If women attain self sufficiency, they will be free from the dependence on a men; however, I do not think what she is arguing is that women need to be "separate" from men in order to achieve this. A woman can seek companionship, meanwhile still maintaing her independence. I think Beauvoir would consider a "successful" and the most meaningful relationship that in which a woman is emancipated, the man respects her as his equal and the woman is independent and self sufficient.
ReplyDeleteI would certainly argue that woman have been provided with their own living strength. In this day and age, at least in our society, women are educated, have successful careers, often the breadwinner of their families, and prominent political actors. Women are now more independent and self sufficient than ever.