Simone de Beauvoir was a rather famous author of feminist literature, as well as some existential works. Her book “The Second Sex” inspired the whole generation of women to fight for their rights worldwide. Her ideas were considered ‘too progressive’ in the past, which is why some men hated her. Even in modern times, some people are intimidated by her words and actions. Her words became prophetic because, nowadays, women accomplished a significant part of the hopes of Simone de Beauvoir.
She mainly hoped that women all over the world would stop being ‘comfortable’ for their man. The definition of ‘comfortable’ includes tying themselves to the kitchen and motherhood, being purposefully stupid, weak, and helpless to please the male’s ego. Nowadays, it can be considered partially done because females all over the world are trying to be themselves rather than a spineless dolly for a man to play. At that time, she also stated that a woman was a mere imitation of a man, although imperfect, weak, futile, passive, and docile. Simone de Beauvoir hoped that women would stop purposefully weakening themselves to be noticed by a male. Nowadays, women from the developed countries are themselves; they look like they want, act as they wish, can get an education whenever they want. However, some countries lack freedom of expression for females. Some states (mainly in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia) still dictate how women should look, how they should act, and how they should please their husbands to live the best life.
Moreover, Simone de Beauvoir hoped that someday feminists would not be demonized, and men would love women, who are intelligent and robust. She dreamed that eventually, males would not be aggressive and scornful towards women fighting for their freedom. De Beauvoir wished that this fight would not be considered an attack on men’s virility and instead be considered an expression of love for oneself. However, this is not achieved ultimately because there are men who think feminists a diabolical force, who want to shift men from the places of power and put women there instead. These men do not understand that feminists fight for their rights and not for the oppression of men instead of women’s oppression.
Finally, Simone de Beauvoir hoped that the concept of patriarchy would be destroyed because it brings no good for women and men. Unfortunately, this is not achieved entirely in any country worldwide. Although the patriarchal system is utterly useless in the modern world and creates an infinite amount of oppression, it is still not liquidated entirely in any part of the world. Men are still dominating the places of power worldwide, in some countries women are afraid to come out on the street without a man, some states still have medieval traditions such as the abduction of brides, through which millions of young girls commit suicide. Some countries always practice gender roles, where a man earns money for a family; a woman is a housewife and raises children. The man’s family forbids such a woman to get an education or even learn to read. Some countries practice exchanging a girl for a herd of cows and marrying this girl at the age of eleven to an older man. Feminism is fighting for the system of patriarchy to collapse and for similar medieval traditions to disappear in modern society.
To conclude, there are many things Simone de Beauvoir wanted for future generations. However, as long as a concept of patriarchy exists, women will not be completely free, as de Beauvoir wanted. Women live better in developed countries because they can be educated and express themselves through clothes, makeup, and hairstyles. Moreover, they can show love and marry someone they genuinely love, unlike the girls from undeveloped countries, who suffer every day.