The Second Sex | Introduction

[@hartereads]

I read parts of The Second Sex in college but haven't read the entire book - but I definitely want. to. It's been on my shelf for a very long time. Great intro, Leo!

[@kirsten0929]

Ooh, I loved this so much, if you're going to include us in your Simone de Beauvoir journey like this the whole way through we are in for a real treat!!

[@HardcoverHearts]

Fantastic. I am so excited to hear your primer on the material. Thank you, Leo!

[@ReadABookGem]

This is really fascinating and I am looking forward to hearing more about this book as you keep reading 😊

[@sandra7319.]

Leo: I can't wait to hear more about this book. A story: I'm a lawyer and I was revising my will retaining a good friend and another female lawyer...one of my changes was to revise those lead in to paragraphs that reads "By all these men present" to "By all people present" to update the old male donated language in the law. My friend gave me that "Oh Sandy look" and stated no one has ever asked me to change that. I reflected on her disapproval later thinking we are both female lawyers and you are okay with male dominated language when no male is involved in the drafting if this will?? Change also starts in little things... phraseology, ownership etc.

[@sandra7319.]

@@Leoslittlebooklife Well I'm guilty of "hey guys"....there is not a good equivalent, although we use y'all a lot, but.....,like you, I'm becoming more aware of language especially in the law which has long been (not now) been dominated by men. I'm looking forward to hearing more of your insights.

[@sandra7319.]

@@LeoslittlebooklifeWhat can I say, I live in Alabama?? I dare you to say y'all in your next video 🤦ha ha

[@scallydandlingaboutthebook2711]

Great introduction. I never actually read The Second Sex from cover to cover. I am sorely tempted to start alongside you despite resolving not to juggle multiple books this year.

[@daytonadane]

I am familiar with Simone de Beauvoir and know she was in a relationship with one of my favorite writers, Nelson Algren; otherwise, I really do not know anything about her, so thanks for this introduction, Leo :-)

[@RickMacDonnell]

@@Leoslittlebooklife I’m excited for you to keep working through this. This was a great start, Leo.

[@RickMacDonnell]

Am I the only one who shuddered when Leo said 1949 was 71 years ago???

[@sandrahollins3520]

No!

[@readingwithlaurane2490]

So interesting! Thanks for elaborating like this. I'm currently reading Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X Kendi which talks about the history of racism in the US. I see quite some parallels with what you are showing here: one group is the norm, another is 'the other' and therefore inferior. Kendi shows the ways in which racism has been designed by white people step by step, spreading ideas to support their selfish needs. I wonder how much of that is also true for the male/female relationship. Looking forward to the rest of your take-aways! I have 'Memoir d'une jeune fille rangée' by her on my shelf I want to get to the first half of this year.

[@LauraFreyReadinginBed]

Sounds like essential reading!

[@Nyledam89]

I forgot I was a failed man. 😂 You are going to make me want to reread this one, Leo. And loved the penguin image to describe the concept of otherness. :)

[@novellenovels]

This is really interesting 🤔

[@drawyourbook876]

Such an interesting book, and so relevant still, sadly. In Spain, the academy of language recommends to use the feminine gender when referring to a group of people in which the majority is women, but I don't think it is still socially accepted.