Freedom, Feminism, and the State

by Wendy McElroy (Editor), Lewis Perry (Foreword)

Many feminists have believed that government is the natural ally of the women’s movement. However, this book demonstrates that the opposite is government has long been a major oppressor of women and their rights. Feminism is not a new political force; its origins can be traced back to the abolitionist movement before the Civil War. Fighting to end slavery, women became conscious of their own legal disabilities. From these anti-statist roots, the women's movement eventually divided over such issues as sex, the family, and war. McElroy's book traces individualist feminism from those early roots until the present day. Her research demonstrates that in vital issues from sex and birth control to business and science, government has been the real obstacle in preventing women from achieving personal freedom and equal rights. This book discusses such controversies as individualism and socialism in the feminist tradition, economic freedom and the role of women, and the contemporary differences between mainstream and individualist feminism. Through McElroy’s work and those of a distinguished group of contributors, this book issues a ringing call for women to recapture their individualist heritage.

Genres: Feminism, History

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

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

[Patrick Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

9 Jan. 2018
I read this book about 1992 and remember loving it.
Great essays by the editor, Wendy McElroy, and many others on what Feminism was originally really all about and how individualist (as opposed to socialist) feminists were crucial for securing basic rights for women, especially to property. The importance of property rights for women was crucial for their (or anyone's) independence and freedom! Unfortunately, this understanding is shared by far too few folks.

The historical background on the early pioneers in securing women's rightful place in society was great. Gave a much better view of what is important from the far more shallow, narrow-minded and hurtful-toward-men cries and actions by the modern statist oriented "feminists."

First book to clue me in to Mary Wollstonecraft and the Grimke sisters, great 19th century individualist feminists. The strides they helped make for women's recognition as equals to men were tremendous.

Very positive memories of this book, which is essential for understanding the huge difference between individualist feminists, who only want their own freedom, NOT to interfere with yours or anyone elses vs. the socialist/statist feminists, who want special privileges and government controls to force others to treat women special.
----
If you like this book, or review, I also recommend the book "Reclaiming the Mainstream" by Joan Kennedy Taylor.
---
I also recommend my favorite book, Socialism, by my favorite author Ludwig Mises, because of it's sociological sections on marriage, family and sex. What an incredibly prescient achievement from 1922.

[Diana Isaura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great collection of essays. Favorites include Antigone's Daughters by Jean Bethke Elshtain, Some Problems of Social Freedom by Lillian Harman, Abortion by Wendy McElroy, and A Right to Make Laws? by Lysander Spooner

[Craig Bolton]

"Freedom, Feminism and the State by Wendy McElroy (1991)"