The Second Sex

Simone de Beauvoir's groundbreaking philosophical treatise examines the historical, social, and biological constructs that have defined women's roles throughout civilization. This seminal work deconstructs the concept of "woman" as an existential category, arguing that women have been systematically positioned as the "Other" in relation to male subjects. Through rigorous analysis spanning mythology, literature, psychoanalysis, and lived experience, de Beauvoir challenges readers to reconsider fundamental assumptions about gender, freedom, and human authenticity—essential reading for anyone seeking to understand feminist philosophy and the intellectual foundations of modern gender discourse.

The essential masterwork that has provoked and inspired generations of men and women. "From Eve's apple to Virginia Woolf's room of her own, Beauvoir's treatise remains an essential rallying point, urging self-sufficiency and offering the fruit of knowledge." --Vogue 

This unabridged edition reinstates significant portions of the original French text that were cut in the first English translation. Vital and groundbreaking, Beauvoir's pioneering and impressive text remains as pertinent today as when it was first published, and will continue to provoke and inspire generations of men and women to come.