Becoming a Woman: Simone de Beauvoir and the Politics of Trans Existence

by Megan Burke

This highly engaging analysis of the contemporary, global social and political landscape of trans antagonisms draws specific attention to ""gender-critical” mobilizations of Simone de Beauvoir's account of becoming a woman in The Second Sex to advance and justify trans exclusionary positions. Through a careful examination and application of Beauvoir's philosophical and political commitments, Becoming a Woman compellingly explores the significance of her notion of becoming as not only affirmative of trans women, but also as an ethical demand to affirm trans possibilities. More than a reply to gender-critical readings of Beauvoir, this book develops an original, Beauvoirian ethics of gender affirmation offering that show why we ought to challenge trans exclusion and anti-trans movements.

Genres: Philosophy

144 pages, Paperback

Published January 29, 2025

Reviews

[felix · Rating 4 out of 5]

need to read the ethics of ambiguity!!

besides that, im semi annoyed at the existential dichotomy between facticity (the given) and transcendence (our freedom to assume the given) as i'm unsure how this transcendent aspect of existence can be posited without relying on religious notions (remembering especially kierkegaard - the first existentialist - who also thought of human existence as consisting of both elements of actuality and potentiality was a deeply christian man)

not that i necessarily disagree though nor that it in any way delegitimises trans affirmation which is an ethical and political issue - two realms in which we have to think ourselves as free 'transcendent' agents either way. the author themselves say that this text offers an ethical account for trans affirmation, not a metaphysical one, arguing that trans affirmation is a necessary condition for moral freedom!! (which following them is defined by beauvoir as social relations which hold open possibilities of becoming)