Question #N1388

In her book, *The Second Sex,* Simone de Beauvoir makes the point that women are often defined by their relationship to men. Beauvoir argues that this way of thinking about women is a product of patriarchy, which she defines as a system of power in which men have more social and political power than women. Beauvoir’s main claim in *The Second Sex* is that the way women are defined in society is a problem because it prevents women from fully achieving their potential.

Which choice best explains the purpose of the underlined portion of the text?
A. The underlined portion introduces the main claim of *The Second Sex*.
B. The underlined portion provides evidence for the author’s claim that the way women are defined in society is a problem.
C. The underlined portion explains the concept of patriarchy.
D. The underlined portion summarizes Beauvoir’s argument about the limitations of women’s potential.