Feminism and the Existentialist Philosophy

The present article, using a qualitative-comparative depth analysis, attempts to examine the existentialist roots in some feminist writings of the 20th century. It tries to show the convergence of values and methods manifested in the feminist-existentialist thinkers. The theoretical basis of the present research is that feminism, instead of being an interpretive school, can be conceived of as a more changing way of thought which is following different ideologies. That is to say, ideologies are followed by feminism that has an agenda for change. In accordance with this reading and critique, the different narratives of feminism, cannot reach a reasonable depth without finding and weighing the ideological schools on which these narratives depend. The research’s hypothesis is that one of most important of these ideologies is existentialism, and that existentialist feminism, as a forerunner of radical feminism, rose to prominence due to the attractive elements inherent in existentialism, and come to its demise due to weaknesses and shortcomings inherent in such school of philosophical.