ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the term 'the sexual contract' in response to, and in criticism of, a long tradition of argument in political philosophy. The argument holds that the best way to appreciate why government and major social and political institutions are legitimate is to suppose that they were agreed to in an original contract. The sexual contract calls attention to men's power over, and government over, women; to the patriarchal structure of major institutions. Theories of an original contract rest on the premise that men or individuals are bom free and equal to each other or by nature are free and equal. The Sexual Contract contains a discussion of the famous texts in political theory in which theories of an original contract were first formulated, and a discussion of some central institutions in society, marriage, employment and prostitution. Part of rethinking involves the issue of why employment should be so tightly woven into citizenship and democracy.
