Existential philosophy and freedom of women: Example of Simone de Beauvoir

Simone de Beauvoir, one of the important female philosophers of 20th century, reinterpreted the fundamental theses of existentialist philosophy in the concept of woman freedom. She made a distinction between biological gender and social gender categories imposed by the society, with these words of hers; "One is not born a woman, but becomes one." Women's hormones do not place her as the 'other' againts man. This situation has been created by the society. Second Gender, which Beauvoir made reputation with, is an important work putting forward how woman is otherized by society with biological, historical and scientifical data. With this work, woman's place in terms of existential philosophy is examined through Beauvoir's notion of second gender. In this respect, information about existential philosophy is given within the introduction part. On the first part, freedom of woman throughout intellectual history. On the second part, a general frame for existential philosophy's outlook on woman is drawn. On the third part, Simone de Beauvoir's ideas about women's freedom in existential philosophy are examined within the concept of the book; Second Gender. Keywords: Woman, Other, Existentialism, Freedom