Reevaluating Simone Beauvoir's married woman argument

• Main Author: Ria Riana Binte Bakri
• Other Authors: Christophe de Ray
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2025
• Subjects: Arts and Humanities; Philosophy; Autonomy
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/183195
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The persistent low birth rates in Singapore and other nations have sparked discussions surrounding the institution of marriage and its role in contemporary society. More specifically, much of the discussion focuses on understanding the factors influencing the growing phenomenon of women choosing to remain single. The main reason is that many women express a strong desire for autonomy, which they believe is diminished once they marry. In this paper, I will explore the institution of marriage and its relationship to autonomy. Contrary to critics who believe marriage constraints autonomy, I argue that marriage, when grounded in mutual respect and shared values, does not diminish autonomy. Instead, it can provide a framework for individuals to exercise and express their autonomy through relational commitments and collaborative decision-making.