Letter of Application and Complaint: Writing Guide and Simone de Beauvoir's Feminist Analysis

Letter of Application and Letter of Complaint: A Writing Guide

1. Letter of Application

1.1 Introduction

• Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing in response to your advertisement for… I am a motivated and responsible person with an interest in…

1.2 Body

• I have previous experience in… I am hardworking, reliable and well-organised. I can work independently and as part of a team… I believe I am suitable for this position because…

1.3 Closing

• I would be happy to attend an interview at your convenience.
• Yours faithfully, (if you do not know the name) / Yours sincerely, (if you know the name)
• [Your name]

2. Letter of Complaint

2.1 Introduction

• Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing regarding a product or service I recently purchased… I would like to express my dissatisfaction with…

2.2 Body

a) What happened

• Firstly, I would like to explain what happened. When I received the product, I noticed that… Unfortunately, there was a problem with… The product was damaged / faulty / not as described.
• This situation has caused me inconvenience.

2.3 Closing

• I expect the issue to be resolved as soon as possible. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
• Yours faithfully, [Your name]

3. Simone de Beauvoir: Key Concepts in The Second Sex

3.1 “Haurdetsuna” (Pregnancy)

Simone de Beauvoir describes the characteristics of pregnancy, referring to the differences between the sexes and the experience that arises from them. She stresses that pregnancy is not neutral but reflects unequal gender relations. Woman appears linked to her body and natural functions, which limits her freedom. However, this situation is reinforced by social and cultural conditions.

3.2 “Emakumea” (Woman)

Beauvoir argues that the nature of woman is not merely natural but socially constructed. Throughout history, woman has been defined from the male perspective, placed as the “Other.” This has restricted her autonomous development. Being a woman is not something one is born with, but a learned role. To change this situation, women must have the opportunity to develop freely.

3.3 “Emakumeak, bere burua beretzat berresten badu…” (If woman affirms herself for herself…)

Beauvoir draws on the ideas of Sartre and Hegel, proposing that woman become a subject. By becoming “for herself,” she moves from being an object to being a subject, developing consciousness. In this way, she becomes the owner of her existence. Based on Hegelian dialectics, woman could overcome dependence and free herself from the idea of the “eternal feminine,” constructing her own essence.

3.4 “Bestea” (The Other)

The concept of alterity comes from Latin and denotes “that which is not oneself.” It is usually attributed to what is placed at a lower level. According to Beauvoir, in patriarchal society woman has been defined in this way: she is not the equal of man. Man is taken as absolute, while woman is secondary. Therefore, woman has been understood as “the Other” within an unbalanced relationship.

3.5 “Subjektu” (Subject)

Beauvoir uses the Hegelian master/slave dialectic. Man has been constructed as the subject, while woman has been placed as the object. Being a subject provides autonomy, power and the capacity for development. Being an object, on the other hand, entails dependence and limits. When woman becomes a subject, she can create her own life project and take responsibility for her decisions.

3.6 “Gizonak zenbateraino jotzen duen bere burua izaki generikotzat, gizontzat…” (To what extent man considers himself the generic being, the human being…)

In patriarchal society, man is the dominant subject, conscious of himself and “for himself.” He has become the reference for defining the human being, as if he were objective and universal. Culture and knowledge have been built to his measure. In accordance with this, the nature of woman has also been defined as object, tied to men’s interests and directed toward motherhood.