“Proem” proposes that the distinction of gender within humanity came with Original Sin rather than creation.  Initially both called “man”, men and women were considered equal; however, with The Fall of Man came the distinction of gender due to corruption of consciousness.  Man constrained woman, “…that she should leave him never;”, and “weak still he kept her, lest she be strong and flee;” (stanza 7).  “Proem” suggests that the sociological influence man had over woman created a polarization of gender which exists solely through psychological constraints and power-abuse.  The most striking line, “And he never once hath seen her since the pre-historic time!” proposes the illegitimacy of gender distinctions which assume one sex as the dominant (stanza 9).  The subordination of woman exists due to a psychological fear which created an “other”. If man saw woman as she was in “the pre-historic time” (here meaning the Prehistoric Era but also before consciousness and sexual distinction), he would realize the fundamental equality which all humans, regardless of gender, possess. Woman is deemed lesser not because of legitimate factors or value-based judgments but due to the fear inspired by Original Sin and abuse of consciousness.  Beginning Women and Economics with this “Proem” suggests that gender lines and expectations exist arbitrarily rather than by act of God; this inspires readers to question the economic and social subordination of women described in the following chapters.