"One is not born a woman, one becomes one" is a view proposed by :

Question

Accepted Answer

"One is not born a woman, one becomes one" is a view proposed by:

**1. Simone de Beauvoir**

**Explanation:**

Simone de Beauvoir is the correct answer because this famous quote is the central thesis of her seminal work, *The Second Sex* (1949). In this book, Beauvoir argues that womanhood is not a biological destiny but a social construct. She posits that individuals are not inherently women at birth; rather, they are shaped by societal forces, expectations, and cultural norms to become women. This process of "becoming" involves internalizing prescribed roles, behaviors, and identities associated with femininity. Beauvoir's existentialist perspective emphasizes that individuals are free to define themselves, but in the case of women, this freedom is often constrained by patriarchal structures. Therefore, the quote directly reflects Beauvoir's core argument about the social construction of gender.

**Why the other options are incorrect:**

*   **2. Bell Hooks:** Bell Hooks was a prominent feminist theorist and social activist, but her work primarily focused on the intersection of race, class, and gender. While she addressed issues of womanhood and gender identity, she is not the originator of the specific quote "One is not born a woman, one becomes one." Her contributions lie more in analyzing the complexities of feminist theory within the context of racial and economic inequalities.

*   **3. Maya Angelou:** Maya Angelou was a celebrated poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist. Her work primarily focused on themes of racial identity, resilience, and personal empowerment, particularly within the African American experience. While her writings often touched upon the experiences of women, she is not associated with the specific philosophical argument presented in the quote attributed to Beauvoir.

*   **4. Luce Irigaray:** Luce Irigaray is a feminist philosopher and psychoanalyst known for her work on sexual difference and language. While her work explores the construction of female identity and challenges patriarchal structures, she is not the author of the quote "One is not born a woman, one becomes one." Her focus is more on the symbolic representation of women in language and culture and the development of a specifically female language.