Gayle Rubin ,.Ay A The Traffic in Women: 6F UDomen (New York Notes on the“Political Economy"of Sex Prs,>pp157-309 The literature on women-both feminist and anti-feminist-is a long rumination on the question of the nature and genesis of women's oppression and social subordination.The ques- tion is not a trivial one,since the answers given it determine our visions of the future,and our evaluation of whether or not it is realistic to hope for a sexually egalitarian society.More importantly,the analysis of the causes of women's oppression forms the basis for any assessment of just what would have to be changed in order to achieve a society without gender hierarchy.Thus,if innate male aggression and dominance are at the root of female oppression,then the feminist program would logically require either the extermination of the offending sex,or else a eugenics project to modify its character.If sexism is a by-product of capitalism's relentless appetite for profit,then sexism would wither away in the advent of a successful socialist revolution.If the world histor- Acknowledgments are an inadequate expression of how much this pa- per,like most,is the product of many minds.They are also necessary to free others of the responsibility for what is ultimately a personal vision of a collective conversation.I want to free and thank the following persons:Tom Anderson and Arlene Gorelick,with whom I co-authored the paper from which this one evolved:Rayna Reiter,Larry Shields. Ray Kelly,Peggy White,Norma Diamond,Randy Reiter,Frederick Wyatt,Anne Locksley,Juliet Mitchell,and Susan Harding,for countless conversations and ideas:Marshall Sahlins,for the revelation of anthro. pology:Lynn Eden,for sardonic editing:the members of Women's Studies 340/004.for my initiation into teaching:Sally Brenner,for heroic typing:Susan Iowes,for incredible patience:and Emma Giold. man,for the title. 157