Why are women oppressed? Where does this oppression come from? What are the reasons that drive those who oppose women's rights to be so determined to reinforce traditions and laws that deny women an equal role in society? Who benefits from the oppression of women? What are the social forces that have the ability to end women's subordinate social position and have common interests in the struggle for women's liberation?
In this book, Evelyn Reed examines the economic and social roots of the oppression of women, from primitive societies to modern capitalism. She outlines the initial forms of ownership and their institutions, how they evolved, and their consequences for women. She explains why the oppression of women is an expression of specific property relations and not a manifestation of the relationship between the two genders. Reed, debunking the myth of women's biological inferiority, presents a clear perspective on their emancipation.