American Debates on Sexual Equality

Description

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.

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.

A welcome addition to the field, integrating the legal canon with contemporary issues in a debate format suitable for undergraduates. * Sally J. Kenney, Professor of Political Science and Newcomb College Endowed Chair, Tulane University, US. * Kessler and Reid offer an ideal blend of historical, conceptual, and legal analysis on the question of sexual equality in America. Judiciously selected, well-framed, and fair-minded, American Debates on Sexual Equality offers students a welcome counter to the prevailing shrill discourse and provides teachers with an approach that the authors have successfully road-tested in their own classes. -- - Noah Pickus, Nannerl O. Keohane Director, Kenan Institute for Ethics, Duke University, US * Endorsement * Who knew that this impressive volume would raise issues involving gender equality which many thought settled? Pay equity, abortion, marriage equality, and violence against women are back on center stage and this book considers these and other issues in a thorough and fair-minded way. The debate format used by the authors will greatly enhance classroom dialogue. This volume is uniquely valuable for a host of courses in Political Theory, Law, and Gender Studies. It will be on my own syllabus next year. -- Karen O'Connor, Founder and Director Emerita, Women & Politics Institute School of Public Affairs American University, US * Endorsement *