In the introductory lines of the Second Sex, De Beauvoir says: “One wonders whether women still exist, whether they will always exist, whether it is desirable or not for them, what place they occupy in this world, what should be their place.” (Solomon, page 296) De Beauvoir argues that woman should not be a biological category, but rather an existential category, which I agree with. De Beauvoir's main thesis is that men oppress women by characterizing them as the Other, defined in opposition to men. Man is essential, absolute and transcendent, while woman is inessential and incomplete. In this article I will summarize De Beauvoir's views on femininity and her proposal on what femininity should ideally be. I will also acknowledge plausible objections to this claim and attempt to respond within the existentialist perspective. De Beauvoir begins with a primary question: "What is a woman?" (Solomon page 296) Women make up half the population, but what makes this half “women”? Our first thought would be a biological definition: a woman is someone with a uterus. However, this would be the definition of female, and not woman. De Beauvoir writes that “connoisseurs” do not believe that every human being with a uterus is a woman. (Solomon page 296) This proves that every female human being is not a woman. De Beauvoir analyzes the existence of women as an entity rather than as a biological result. It highlights the notable physical differences between men and women, but states that these parts are not defining characteristics of the sexes. Biological and physical appearance do not provide sustenance to differentiate one from the other. Beauvoir then writes that to be considered a woman “she must share that… middle of paper… look in every group, every group shows duality. For example, when we consider the black man and woman, the man is still the subject, while the woman is the object. This is true in the case of a white man and woman, or even a black man and woman. In conclusion, Beauvoir has made a compelling case for woman as Other. It shows why it is necessary for women to break out of this image and seek freedom and equality. Beauvoir believes that femininity is a stage of social evolution; it has not existed everywhere in human history and may disappear in the future. Beauvoir poses two prerequisites for liberation. First, women don't need to embrace femininity if they don't want to, and second, living like men won't make them equal. Women must stop being influenced by society and must find their own individual identity. Only then will they truly become equals.