Women and Economics · Chapter
IV explained
This chapter explores the relationship between the economic dependence of women on men and the exaggerated sex-distinction in the human female.
What happens
This chapter explores the relationship between the economic dependence of women on men and the exaggerated sex-distinction in the human female. It argues that when women became economically dependent on men, natural selection ceased to act directly on them, instead developing their sex-attraction faculties. This has led to a check on women's human development and an overemphasis on sex-functions, with women's economic profit still tied to their ability to attract and hold the other sex.
Themes in this chapter
Economic Dependence of Women
The chapter details how women's economic dependence on men, established through the sexuo-economic relation, has shaped their biological and social development.
Sexuo-Economic Relation
Central to the chapter, this theme explains how women's economic profit comes through sex-attraction, leading to exaggerated sex-distinction and a check on human progress.
Social Evolution and Progress
The chapter contrasts men's role in advancing civilization with women's exclusion from social relations, arguing that the sexuo-economic relation has hindered race-development.
Characters to notice
- Unknown Narrator
The narrator presents a sociological and biological analysis of the effects of the sexuo-economic relation on women's development.
- Pain
Mentioned in the context of the biological effects of the sexuo-economic relation, though not as a personified character.
Key passages
“When man began to feed and defend woman, she ceased proportionately to feed and defend herself.”
As men took over the roles of providing food and protection, women stopped doing so for themselves.
This illustrates the shift in women's economic role and its impact on their self-sufficiency.
“The human female was cut off from the direct action of natural selection, that mighty force which heretofore had acted on male and female alike with inexorable and beneficial effect, developing strength, developing skill, developing endurance, developing courage—in a word, developing species.”
Women were removed from the direct influence of natural selection, which had previously benefited both sexes by fostering traits like strength and courage.
Highlights the biological consequence of women's economic dependence on men.
“woman’s economic profit comes through the power of sex-attraction.”
Women's financial gain is derived from their ability to attract men.
Summarizes the core argument of the sexuo-economic relation.