In 1928, a 20-year-old Parisian woman named Simone de Beauvoir walked out of the Sorbonne with a philosophy degree in hand. At a time when women were expected to marry quietly rather than pursue intellectual careers, this was truly revolutionary.
Her sharp mind and fearless independence soon placed her at the heart of existentialism, alongside her lifelong partner Jean-Paul Sartre. But Simone’s influence reached far beyond philosophy seminars.
In 1949, she published The Second Sex, a groundbreaking work that shattered conventions and changed history. In it, she declared:
“One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.”
With these words, she revealed that gender roles aren’t natural—they’re imposed by society. It was a bold statement that laid the foundation for modern feminism.
Simone de Beauvoir wasn’t just a philosopher. She was a novelist, essayist, and a woman who insisted on freedom—for herself and for all women. Her existentialist belief was simple yet radical: life isn’t something given to you; it’s something you must create for yourself.
Her books, speeches, and activism inspired generations to question the roles they were assigned. She encouraged women to break free from tradition, take control of their futures, and live authentically.
Simone de Beauvoir died in 1986, but her words live on—in classrooms, protests, and everyday lives. Her challenge to the world remains: don’t accept the life society hands you—create your own.