Liberty for Women: Freedom and Feminism in the 21st Century

by Wendy McElroy (Editor), Wendy Kaminer (Foreword)

The contributors to this important new collection offer a vision of contemporary feminism that runs counter to and goes beyond the dominant attitudes of the feminist orthodoxy. Basing their arguments on individual rights and personal responsibility, the contributors to Liberty for Women offer surprising views on a wide range of issues that confront modern self-defense, sexual freedom, reproduction, economic well-being, the promise of technology, and the place of traditional values, including the family. This new feminism, for example, asserts the right of gun ownership, champions the free market as the best hope for women's prosperity, defends abortion rights, and values traditions. It sees choice as the key for all women, from housewives to CEOs, from prostitutes to mothers. The contributors include Camille Paglia, Norma Jean Almodovar, Matthew Y. Biscan, Lois Copeland, Janis Cortese, Richard A. Epstein, Faith Gibson, Mimi Gladstein, Wendy McElroy, Martha C. Nussbaum, Ellen Frankel Paul, Rita J. Simon, Richard W. Stevens, Nadine Strossen, Alexander Tabarrok, Hugo Tuefel III, and Cathy Young. Liberty for Women is an eye-opening collection that is certain to challenge, annoy, and entertain. Published in association with The Independent Institute.

Genres: Feminism, Philosophy

320 pages, Paperback

First published May 25, 2002

About the author

Wendy McElroy is a Canadian individualist feminist and anarcho-capitalist.

Among feminists, she identifies herself as being sex-positive: defending the availability of pornography and condemning anti-pornography feminism campaigns. She has also voiced criticism of sexual harassment policies, particularly the zero-tolerance policies common to grade schools, which she considers to be "far too broad and vague" and lacking the sound research necessary to guide responsible policy-making decisions.

In explaining her position in regard to capitalism, she says she has a "marked personal preference for capitalism as the most productive, fair and sensible economic system on the face of the earth," but also recognizes that the free market permits other kinds of systems as well. She says what she wants for society is "not necessarily a capitalistic arrangement but a free market system in which everyone can make the peaceful choices they wish with their own bodies and labor." Therefore, she does not call herself a capitalist but someone for a "free market."

(This description is taken from Wikipedia.)

Reviews

[Angel Walker-Werth · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 As with any anthology, the quality of the arguments and writing varied from one essay to the next, ranging from interesting and well-thought-out to sloppy and dismissive to dry and statistics-based. Many of the core arguments I thought were sound, but some topics and statistics are now outdated.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

The essays are OK but, maybe because these ideas are all over the internet, it mostly felt stale.

[Clarence Goodman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Food for thought, but coffee will be needed.