Simone de Beauvoir's philosophy was significantly influenced by her experiences of growing up in a patriarchal society and her rigorous education. As a young woman, she faced the limitations imposed on women during her time, leading her to critically analyze gender roles and societal expectations. Her relationship with Jean-Paul Sartre further advanced her ideas about existentialism and freedom. Reading and engaging with a variety of philosophical and literary works allowed her to articulate her thoughts in her groundbreaking book, The Second Sex, where she famously declared that “one is not born, but rather becomes, a woman,” challenging traditional notions of gender.