The bodily experience of the "Second Sex"

Deyhim, Maliheh (2017) The bodily experience of the "Second Sex". Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

In this thesis, I analyze the feminine style of movement and speech, which is imposed upon women by their oppressive situation. In order to pursue this investigation, I use Merleau-Ponty’s phenomenological account of movement and speech to provide my study with a general account of these bodily experiences. I also use de Beauvoir’s account of the situation of women to explain how this situation encourages women to adopt a feminine style of being-in-the-world. Finally, I argue that in experiencing the world in a certain way, women typically adopt a feminine style of movement and speech. As a result of an oppressive social structure, women experience space as confined, and this leads to a limited experience of movement and speech, in which women’s creativity and freedom are restrained. I suggest that this analysis can be used to help explain the limited participation of women in practical and socio-political realms.

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