Simone de Beauvoir quotes
1908 – 1986 · 20th century, France · Philosopher, novelist, memoirist, public intellectual
About Simone de Beauvoir
Born and died in Paris, she wrote novels, memoirs and philosophical essays that examine women's condition, freedom and lived experience. Combining phenomenology and political engagement, her work reshaped gender studies and feminist theory.
Works: The Second Sex; The Mandarins; She Came to Stay; Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter
Quotes
“One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.”
Source: The Second Sex (1949) · Check the source
Verified attributionWhat we know
- What is documented
- The sentence is securely attributed to Simone de Beauvoir and appears in The Second Sex (1949).
Beauvoir’s line asserts that ‘woman’ is shaped by history and society: bodies are lived within rules and expectations that create identity. It comes from The Second Sex (1949) and captures her critique of treating women’s roles as natural facts.