Ironic Freedom : Personal Choice, Public Policy, and the Paradox of Reform

Ironic Freedom asserts that freedom from governmental interference may make people vulnerable to other sources of coercion; these affects vary by gender, race, and class. Increasing negative freedoms may reinforce existing asymmetrical power relationships within society. If We Legalize Physician-assisted Suicide, Will People Be Forced Into It? Did Allowing Abortion Make It Compulsory For Some Women? Did Abolishing The Military Draft Create A 'poverty Draft' For Disadvantaged Youth? Ironic Freedom Analyses This Familiar Problem In Feminist And Liberal Theory Which Asserts That Freedom From Governmental Interference May Actually Make People Vulnerable To Other Sources Of Coercion. Drawing On Both Political Theory And Popular Discourse, Judith A. Baer Inquires As To What Kinds Of Evidence Would Be Needed To Support, Or Refute, The Existence Of These Ironic Freedoms--page Four Of Cover. An Introduction To Ironic Freedom -- Right To Die, Right To Live: Assisted Suicide -- Ironic Freedom And Occupational Choice: Sex Work And Military Service -- Path To Liberation Or Stigma As Social Policy? Same-sex Marriage -- Whose Right? Whose Duty? Sexual Choice And Gender Equality -- Conclusion: Ironic Freedom And Feminist Post-liberalism. Judith A. Baer. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Ironic Freedom: Personal Choice, Public Policy, and the Paradox of Reform; Contents; Preface; Acknowledgments; CHAPTER 1: An Introduction to Ironic Freedom; Ironic Freedom, Liberal Reform, and Feminist Response; Not All Ironic Freedom Situations Are Alike; What Ironic Freedom Arguments Are Not; When Is Freedom Ironic?; Conclusion; CHAPTER 2: Right to Die, Right to Live: Assisted Suicide; The Theory and Practice of Suicide; Final Exit or Forced Exit? Ironic Freedom and Assisted Suicide; Disability, Assisted Suicide, and Euthanasia; Conclusion Front Matter....Pages i-xiv An Introduction to Ironic Freedom....Pages 1-17 Right to Die, Right to Live....Pages 19-36 Ironic Freedom and Occupational Choice....Pages 37-56 Path to Liberation or Stigma as Social Policy?....Pages 57-73 Whose Right? Whose Duty?....Pages 75-96 Winners and Losers....Pages 97-107 Conclusion....Pages 109-120 Back Matter....Pages 121-182