Support Slavery Quote by Simone de Beauvoir
““Sewers are necessary to guarantee the wholesomeness of palaces, according to the Fathers of the Church. And it has often been remarked that the necessity exists of sacrificing one part of the female sex in order to save the other and prevent worse troubles. One of the arguments in support of slavery, advanced by the American supporters of the institution, was that the Southern whites, being all freed from servile duties, could maintain the most democratic and refined relations among themselves; in the same way, a caste of 'shameless women' allows the 'honest woman' to be treated with the most chivalrous respect. The prostitute is a scapegoat; man vents his turpitude upon her, and he rejects her. Whether she is put legally under police supervision or works illegally in secret, she is in any case treated as a pariah.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Second Sex, Simone de Beauvoir, 1949
The passage critiques how societies justify oppression of women by framing them as necessary scapegoats, using moral and social arguments to legitimize exploitation.
In simple terms: Women are blamed and controlled to protect others.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge structures that dehumanize women.
Themes
gender oppression
social control
doubleoral hypocrisy
feminist critique
Mood
critical
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
political
social commentary
When to use this quote
- legal regulation of prostitution
- public health policy
- social welfare debates
- activist campaigns against human trafficking
Key Concepts
patriarchy
scapegoating
objectification
intersectionality
Questions to Reflect On
- How do these justifications persist today?
- What alternatives exist to protect vulnerable women without dehumanizing them?
A Different Perspective
Such arguments often ignore women's agency and the complexity of individual choices.
