Tomorrow is March 8, a day to celebrate women’s rights and reflect on the challenges that remain. However, it is also a moment to critically examine the figures that have shaped real feminist thought. Some people believe that feminism was built by figures such as Simone de Beauvoir, and another referenced author is Michel Foucault, who have disturbing histories that challenge their status as role models. But this is not true.
Although media outlets have reported that Simone de Beauvoir publicly defended the decriminalization of pedophilia and was dismissed from teaching due to her involvement in a related case, scientific studies rarely acknowledge this. Similarly, allegations that Michel Foucault abused children in Tunisia are widely known. Some might assume that academics referencing him are unaware of these accusations or his involvement in the Le Monde manifesto defending the decriminalization of pedophilia. However, research suggests that many scholars who cite him are aware of these facts but choose to ignore or conceal them.
Some people argue that their work should be separated from his personal actions. Yet, this position contradicts Foucault’s and Beauvoir’s own writings, which explicitly advocate for a form of sexuality that includes sexual violence, even proposing the decriminalization of pederasty and in the case of Foucault, also rape.
The fact that these figures are still considered influential in feminist circles is deeply concerning. If feminism seeks to stand against all forms of violence, it must critically assess its intellectual foundations. March 8 should not only be about celebrating achievements but also about ensuring that the movement is built on ethical and feminist principles.
In feminism, we look up to figures such as Sappho, Scheherazade, Jane Addams, and Hedy Lamarr, as well as leading scientists who rank among the world’s top scholars, including Ramón Flecha, Lidia Puigvert, Rosa Valls, and Marta Soler. They inspire many feminists with their own example of human and scientific excellence.
Assistant Lecturer at the University of the Basque Country