Sexuality and the Law: Feminist Engagements

The interaction between legal regulation and the domain of sexuality has been the subject of much academic discussion, particularly in the context of feminist theory and politics. However, in recent times, feminist understandings of several key issues have become subsumed within broader gender-oriented analyses. This edited collection seeks to 'rediscover' the peculiarity of feminist perspectives within this arena. More specifically, it seeks to provide the space within which to re-vitalise a conception of sexuality as at the centre of feminist theorising. While in this sense it picks up the mantle of MacKinnon's understanding of sexuality as 'lynch-pin', it charts a path that seeks to avoid the reductionist and essentialist shortcomings of 'feminism unmodified'. In so doing, it also aims to redress the emergent and very real sense of disillusionment amongst feminist thinkers who lament the loss of unified 'feminist' standpoints, with all the political cohesion and existential affirmation that they entail.Re-visiting many of the key topics within sexuality, this collection of essays consciously seeks to transcend the dichotomised thinking (e.g. coercion / choice, victim / agent) that has come to characterise gender-based (feminist?) analyses of these issues. In broad terms, it is envisaged that contributions to the book will address some of the following key themes: Prostitution / Trafficking in Women for Prostitution; Rape the Regulation of Negative Sexual Autonomy; Sexual Orientation Civil Partnership Regimes; Positive Sexual Autonomy (age of consent, s-m practices, etc.); Sex Education Sexual Health; Sexuality as an International Human Right; Issues in the Regulation of Transsexuality; The Relationship between Queer Theory Feminism; Sexuality and Identity Politics; Sexuality, Law and Governance; Sexuality Space; Sexual Citizenship; Sexuality Popular Culture; Sexuality Theories of Masculinity; and Sexuality Legal Theory.In addition, the editors will write a substantial introductory chapter, both summarising the state of the law on core aspects of sexuality and providing a critical appraisal of the book's key themes and concerns.