Did Simone de Beauvoir believe gender is a social construct?
Yes, but with nuance. I famously wrote, 'One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.' This means that gender identity is not a natural or biological given but is produced through socialization, cultural norms, and institutional practices. However, I did not deny biological differences; I argued that these differences are always interpreted within a social context that assigns them meaning and value. The female body is not a destiny but a situation—a starting point that can be transcended through free projects. My view is often misread as claiming gender is purely performative or voluntary. In truth, I emphasized that becoming a woman involves internalizing oppressive structures, which must be critically examined and resisted.
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