Economic dependence prevents the hetaera from losing herself in genuine love

Evidence

There are moments of spontaneity in her life: she does experience love; she has “flings” and “infatuations”; sometimes she is even “mad about” someone. But the one who spends too much time on caprices, feelings, or pleasure will soon lose her “position.” Generally, she composes her fantasies with the prudence of an adulterous wife; she hides from her producer and the public; thus, she cannot give too much of herself to her “true loves”; they can only be a distraction, a respite. Besides, she is usually too obsessed with her own success to be able to lose herself in a real love affair. — Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, 1690

Categorization

• DEFINE: Shows how financial dependence forecloses authentic love — the economic base of transcendence denied.