The Second Sex

Translated By Constance Borde And Sheila Malovany-Chevallier. Annotated and Introduced By Martine Reid

Simone de Beauvoir famously wrote, "One is not born, but rather becomes, woman". In this groundbreaking work of feminism she examines the limits of female freedom and explodes our deeply ingrained beliefs about femininity. Liberation, she argues, entails challenging traditional perceptions of the social relationship between the sexes and, crucially, in achieving economic independence.

Drawing on sociology, anthropology and biology, The Second Sex is as important and relevant today as when it was first published in 1949.

For items in stock, your order will be shipped within 24 hours. For items not in stock but available to order, please allow 5-7 days for us to receive new stock and process your order. After processing, we offer 2-day shipping to Portugal with DPD. As of August 12, 2026, due to the EUs' new PPWR legislation, we are not able to ship outside of Portugal. For more information, see our Shipping & Returns page.