At exactly the same time, the newest definitions and you may advantages and this we attach to all of our materiality create maybe not float clear of you to materiality. How body’s resided because of the all of us has get it on beoordelingen to match the details and this biology variably tries to bring, plus circumstances regarding reproduction, menstruation and you may menopause. “Sex” having Beauvoir was not, upcoming, a physiological category. It’s, because Sandford (2006), points out a keen existential you to definitely. Plus in examining what constituted existing as a female, physical analysis was just among the many constituents.
dos.2 Life style the female Human anatomy
In later on chapters Beauvoir provides an effective phenomenology of your own system just like the existed regarding various other stages out-of good woman’s lives. Right here this woman is clearly offering this lady narrative because the a free account from existed sense, the human body from inside the state. Inside the young people the young girl’s person is experienced in an alternative means away from that the students guy. This woman is trained for the a new way of inhabiting they. He could be motivated to go up woods and you can gamble rough video game. She’s encouraged to eradicate the woman entire individual as the a toy, “an inactive target … a keen inert offered object” (1949 [1982: 306–307]). The result try a keen inhibited intentionality, the girl impulsive actions inhibited, “the latest exuberance regarding life … restrained” (1949 [1982: 323]), “shortage of physical power” leading to good “standard timidity” (1949 [1982: 355]). New membership hence Beauvoir is offering here is one out of hence female experience something such as an exercise within the bodily patterns hence build the possibilities for communications with the industry.
As woman enters puberty, Beauvoir cards, the girl human anatomy will get so you can her a supply of horror and you can guilt. “The latest growth in this lady armpits transforms their towards a kind off creature otherwise algae” (1949 [1982: 333]), the girl monthly period bloodstream a source of disgust. Her phenomenology of your own maternal system could have been especially controversial:
ensnared of course the expectant mothers are plant and creature … a keen incubator, a mindful and you can totally free individual who might life’s inactive means … not so much mothers… as the rich organisms, such as fowls with a high eggs design. (1949 [1982: 513])
Such profile were a supply of complaint, especially if later feminists sought for to celebrate the feminine system once the a way to obtain pleasure, virility, and you may empowerment, (pick less than). But it’s important to understand that what she is providing was a detailed phenomenology from females bodies as the lived in particular facts. She are detailing a specific band of experience during the a certain public and you can historical point. Because she explicitly says:
should your physiological reputation of women really does form an impairment, this is because from her standard state …. It’s from inside the a complete situation which renders this lady few outlets one to this lady distinct features undertake the pros. (1949 [1982: 356–357])
dos.3 The human body while some
Precisely how the young girl and then the woman feel the woman person is, having Beauvoir, a consequence of a method out-of internalizing the scene from it according to the gaze from someone else.
Through compliments and you will admonishments, using photo and you can terms and conditions, she finds out this is of your conditions fairly and you can unattractive; she soon understands that to get happier is usually to be quite because the an image; she attempts to wind up as a photo, she disguises herself, she discusses by herself in the reflect, she measures up by herself to princesses and fairies from tales. (1949 [2010: 304])
This is basically the start of the manner in which lady real time their health due to the fact items to have another’s gaze, something that has its own supply maybe not into the anatomy in “education and you will landscaping” (1949 [2010: 304]). Beauvoir’s membership of the manner in which lady real time their bodies in such an enthusiastic objectified means, internalizing this new look and you can promoting their bodies just like the items for others, could have been one of the girl foremost contributions so you’re able to good phenomenology out of female embodiment, expecting and you will impacting the task of later feminists like Bartky and Younger (see below parts 5.1 and you may 7.1) .