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When an individual (or a group of individuals) is kept in a situation of inferiority, the fact is that he is inferior. But the significance of the verb to be must be rightly understood here; it is in bad faith to give it a static value when it really has the dynamic Hegelian sense of 'to have become.' Yes, women on the whole are today inferior to men; that is, their situation affords them fewer possibilities. The question is: should that state of affairs continue? Many men hope that it will continue; not all have given up the battle.

Simone De Beauvoir#50

SocietyChangeEmpowermentInequalityStatus

About this quote

What does it mean?
Inferiority is a dynamic condition, not a fixed fact; women are inferior in situation, not essence, and this can be changed.
In plain terms
Being inferior is a situation you are in, not who you are.
What can you take from it?
Recognize inferiority as changeable, not permanent.

Where it applies

  • gender equality
  • social justice
  • personal empowerment

Putting it to work

  • challenge status quo
  • support equality
  • change situations

Questions to consider

  • Is your status fixed or changing?
  • How can you change your situation?

Another view

It may minimize structural barriers to change.

More from Simone De Beauvoir

  1. All agree in recognising the fact that females exist in the human species; today as always they make up about one half of humanity. And yet we are told that fe…

    Permalink to quote #49
  2. One is not born a genius, one becomes a genius; and the feminine situation has up to the present rendered this becoming practically impossible.

    Permalink to quote #51
  3. In Plato, art is mystification because there is the heaven of Ideas; but in the earthly domain all glorification of the earth is true as soon as it is realized…

    Permalink to quote #48

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