An In-depth Analysis of the Nature and Whatness of Woman in the Existentialist Feminism of Simone de Beauvoir

Feminist theories, especially the existentialist theory of Simon de Beauvoir, not only has left a great impact on Western societies, has also affected the Iranian society. De Beauvoir’s definition of woman as “One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman” is a statement that expresses the ontological position of feminists with regard to women. In this definition, she views the nature of woman and femininity as a social product and a historical and cultural thing, not a divine one. This kind of approach to women has many contradictions with Islamic and cultural foundations which will be discussed below from the Islamic point of view. The findings show that, while denying the constant nature of women, de Beauvoir has considered the natural and biological role of woman, such as motherhood and marriage, as an artificial, cultural, and historical issues. However, the existence of these natural and biological differences over the centuries proves a constant nature for human being which itself is an evidence against her claim.