Simone de Beauvoir's Second Sex

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Simone de Beauvoir's The Second Sex is an important and influential text in the realm of feminism/philosophy. Unfortunately, the only English translation currently available is flawed- to such an extent that much of Beauvoir's original meaning has been lost or obscured. Large portions of the text have been cut, while key philosophical terms have been mistranslated. The inadequacy of the current translation may well be contributing to the belief, prevalent in certain circles, that the text need not be taken seriously by phenomenologists and other academics.
Random House/Knopf has repeatedly refused to publish or authorize a scholarly journal to publish a new, more accurate translation, despite ongoing pressure from members of the academic community. If the publisher is concerned about a loss of sales, they could join with a scholarly press to publish both a popular edition without notes and a fully annotated scholarly edition. Given the texts significance in the fields of philosophy, history, and literature, English readers should not have to wait decades longer until the book enters the public domain.
The purpose of this petition is to send a clear message to Random House/Knopf that academics, students, and other Beauvoir readers support, even demand, a new, accurate and complete translation of The Second Sex.

661 Signatures

  • LISA Y
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Linda K
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Adam C
    • Comments
    • В
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Amber M
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Kathryn T
  • Joanna B
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Lesley C
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • John B
    • Comments
    • В
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Anne F. P
    • Comments
    • В
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Tom M
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Shelley O
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Shureice K
    • Comments
    • !!!!!!!!!
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Caroline R. L
    • Comments
    • Thanks to all for supporting this endeavor!
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Sarah LaChance A
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Jazmine G
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Ted T
    • Comments
    • I strongly support the publication of a complete and accurate English translation of this important work. I would use this revised text in courses and recommend it heartily to colleagues and my students.
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Chaone M
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Sean W
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • John L
    • Comments
    • Please!?!
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Edgar T
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Ashwini P
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Christian M
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Dr. Bonnie M
    • Comments
    • Bonnie Mann This text is taught very regularly in philosophy departments across the country, and internationally. That no credible English translation of this text exists is a hindrance to scholarship in the entire English speaking world. I just taught this text this term, and had to constantly correct translations in class, much more so than I have experienced with any other translated philosophical text. This translation is not just questionable, it is very very misleading. A new translation would be marketable not just to new students of Beauvoir, but to every scholar who owns a copy of the old translation and will be glad to trade it in for the new one.
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Sonia K
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Beata S
    • Comments
    • If Sartre's L'Imaginaire deserved a brand new translation from Routledge, then Beavoir's Le Deuxieme Sexe deserves one from Random House/Knopt. I routinely teach classic French texts from the phenomenological tradition and would use a revised translation of Le Deuxieme Sexe in my classes.
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Lani Roberts, P
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Warga
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • troy w
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • CJ S
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Jane M
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Christa B
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Robert A
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Kimberley DP P
    • Comments
    • This is crucial to English speaking Beauvoir scholarship. And I would purchase it immediately upon publication.
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Alexandria P
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Julia W
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Mary
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Eva S
  • Jen M
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Carter S
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Carolyn C
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Lesley W
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Kristin D
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Katie L
    • Comments
    • This is rediculous! As part of the publishing industry I am ashamed that you would let this go on. You have a responsibility to the public and to the writer to be fair and accurate.
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Mariana O
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Katie R
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Emily S
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Sonia M
    • Comments
    • Please, do this because de Beauvoir's writings are a gift to humanity!
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Alice S
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No
  • Mark S
    • Comments
    • I may not buy a copy myself, but I would make sure my university does!
  • Amber
    • Would you purchase a new copy of The Second Sex, if a new, accurate and comlete translation was released?
    • No