In lower animals only the male gains individual existence

Evidence

The female lives longer and seems to have more importance; but she has no autonomy; laying, incubation, and care of the larvae make up her whole destiny; her other functions are totally or partially atrophied. By contrast, an individual existence takes shape in the male. — Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, 92

Categorization

• DEFINE: This introduces the individual-existence vs species-servitude opposition that grounds immanence/transcendence.
• XREF: connects to: Civilization develops only through resistance that first appears as the father; Male uselessness contains the germ of individual independence — Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, 92; Nature temporarily abolishes male supremacy for the independently-minded woman — Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, 1763 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Male uselessness contains the germ of individual independence #expands (0.85) — Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, 92
• Male sexuality integrates with individual transcendence while female sexuality does not #expands (0.85) — Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, 97
• Nature temporarily abolishes male supremacy for the independently-minded woman #complicates (0.80) — Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, 1763
• Individual women transcend their condition only when granted masculine possibilities by chance #complicates (0.80) — Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, 227