In this episode of pplpod, we explore the complex life and intellectual legacy of Simone de Beauvoir, the French existentialist philosopher, writer, and activist who laid the groundwork for modern feminism. We trace her journey from a bourgeois Catholic upbringing to becoming the youngest person ever to pass the competitive agrégation in philosophy at age 21.

Join us as we discuss:

• The Mother of Second-Wave Feminism: We unpack her foundational 1949 text, The Second Sex, and the revolutionary concept that "One is not born but becomes a woman". We examine her argument that civilization defines women as the "Other" and her distinction between biological sex and the social construction of gender.

• A "Soul Partnership": We look at her lifelong, non-exclusive relationship with Jea ...