French existentialist and feminist philosopher (1908-1986). Author of The Second Sex; extended Sartrean existentialism into an ethics of ambiguity and a foundational critique of gender as a social construct.
Key tenets
“One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman” — gender is constructed.
Ethics of ambiguity: freedom is meaningful only when willed in solidarity with others’ freedom.
Woman has been historically defined as the Other against Man as Subject.
Authentic existence requires resisting roles imposed by patriarchy and habit.