American Debates on Sexual Equality

by Kessler, Sanford; Reid, Traciel V.

• ISBN13: 9781441188649
• ISBN10: 1441188649
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2013-04-25
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic

Summary

If Americans generally support sexual equality in principle, they still disagree sharply over it in practice. For example, should military women engage in combat? Should same-sex marriages be allowed? American Debates on Sexual Equality addresses such questions in a debate format to promote discussion and critical thinking on gender-related issues.

American Debates on Sexual Equality opens with the early views on gender issues, from the Declaration of Independence and the women's suffrage movement, before examining such issues as equality under the law, the military, violence, employment, education, marriage, and reproductive choice.

The book features a wide selection of readings from various sources and ideological positions, to present all sides of the debate in a fair manner. Each chapter is framed by an introduction and conclusion and each essay is introduced by a brief discussion of its author, topic, and historical context.

This exhaustive and balanced introduction to sexual equality in the US will appeal to students in courses dealing with gender issues, women and politics, and American politics in general.

Author Biography

Sanford Kessler is Associate Professor of Political Science at North Carolina State University and Adjunct Associate Professor of Political Science at Duke University, USA. His teaching specialties are political theory and American political thought. He is the author of Tocqueville's Civil Religion: American Christianity and the Prospects for Freedom (1994). His articles have appeared in The Journal of Politics, Polity, Interpretation, The Review of Politics and The Journal of Church and State. Traciel V. Reid is Associate Professor of Political Science in the School of Public and International Affairs at North Carolina State University, USA. Her research interests include judicial politics, judicial elections, judicial decision making and United States constitutional decision making.

Table of Contents

1. General Introduction / 2. American Debates on Sexual Equality: Early American Views / 3. The Right to Vote / 4. Equality Under the Law / 5. Military Service / 6. Rape and Violence / 7. Employment / 8. Education / 9. Marriage / 10. Expanding the Concept of Union / 11. Parenthood / 12. Reproductive Choice / 13. American Debates on Sexual Equality: Contemporary American Views