Page "The Second Sex" Paragraph 18

Beauvoir explains " a basic law of political economy " to stop " endless debate " about " the ambiguity of the words ' give ' and ' take '".

She says that a woman needs to understand that " an exchange ... is negotiated according to the value the proposed merchandise has for the buyer and not for the seller: she was duped by being persuaded she was priceless ...." Beauvoir takes time to answer skeptics and her critics but quickly reaches the end: